IT is with great sadness that we report today that veteran Globe sports writer Andrew Stratton has passed away.

Andy has written for local and national newspapers for more than 50 years.

Wirral Globe:

Born in Meols, he attended Kingsmead School in Hoylake, before moving on to Liverpool College and eventually studying journalism.

Following his National Service, he entered work in 1961 as a reporter with North West News and Sport Agency, later taking over the business from Jim Becall.

For many years he covered local news and sport stories for the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo and was a primary reporter on Tranmere Rovers Football club for local and national papers, television and radio for more than 40 years until his formal retirement several years ago.

In his younger days he played rugby for Old Parkonians and was an avid supporter and follower of many local sports and clubs.

He was a long-serving writer for the Wirral News and the Wirral Globe, continuing as a regular writer for the Wirral Globe Sports section, reporting on cricket, rugby and sailing with his last write-up published only last week.

He was also a long-standing member, competitor and stalwart of Hoylake Sailing Club for more than 60 years, holding positions including Commodore and Captain.

He was currently treasurer and one of the directors of the club until his sudden and unexpected death at home earlier this week.

As a loyal, hardworking and inspirational figurehead to his family and all those around him, he will be remembered and sadly missed by the many people that knew him, both personally and professionally, and at the many and varied sports clubs he was associated with around Wirral.

He was aged 77.

Andrew's son Christopher said today: “It was a real shock. He was as fit as ever.

“He was a great father and grandfather, very supportive and very switched on.

“He was determined, competitive and always willing to lend a hand when he could.

“The sailing club and rugby were the loves of his life. He loved writing for the Globe. 

“He’d got into the computer age at the right time and when he needed to, particularly with the changing demands of newspapers.

“Because of the nature of his work, he was a workaholic, always working long hours.” 

Globe editor Leigh Marles said: "Andy's death has come as a great shock.

"His rugby and cricket reports were often the first things that readers turned to and they will be as saddened by his passing as everyone is here at the Wirral Globe.

"On a personal level, I have known Andy for the best part of 30 years and I liked and admired him greatly.

"He was a true no-nonsense reporter with an unrivalled knowledge of his field.

"It is a very sad day indeed."

Huw Chapman, chairman of Hoylake Sailing Club, said: "He was above all a family man and a passionate member of Hoylake Sailing Club of which he was an active member for 60 years.

"During this time he held many positions including Captain, Treasurer, Commodore and Director.

"He was an experienced sailor with a competitive streak amassing many wins in his Mersey Mylne, Merganser and his beloved Opera, Silvana.

"I was extremely proud to have known Andrew for many years during which time I never knew him to raise his voice, only when explaining to his competitors where they were going wrong ... Tactically!

"I think I speak for all the members when I say a large void has been left following his passing and Hoylake Sailing Club will never be the same."

West Kirby and Thurstaston Conservative councillor Geoffrey Watt, a past commodore of the club added: "He really put an awful lot of time into the sport he loved.

"He loved life and loved sport."

Andy's funeral service will be held at St John’s Church, Meols, on Wednesday, February 10, at 12.15pm.