ANNE Simpson, who was a writer and columnist with The Herald for almost 40 years, has died.

In her long career with the newspaper, she edited the women's pages, wrote features and high-profile interviews and in recent years was The Herald's radio writer.

She also wrote about fashion and won many awards, including British Fashion Writer of the Year.

She joined The Herald in 1975 and completed assignments in Scotland and around the world. High-profile interviewees included Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Seamus Heaney, Alex Ferguson and John Le Carre.

Ahead of the Scottish elections in 2011, she also interviewed each of the party leaders. She also won praise for her moving interview with Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Alexander Litvinenko, the former KGB agent who died of polonium poisoning.

The editor of The Herald, Magnus Llewellin, said Anne had made an enormous contribution to the newspaper over 40 years. "Her interviews were always perceptive but also beautifully written too. She will be missed by her colleagues but also by readers of The Herald."

Deputy editor Barclay McBain said Anne had always shown rigour and determination in securing big-name interviews. "No matter the subject, she always managed to produce something that was revelatory. She was also an extremely decent person and a great friend to many of her colleagues on The Herald."

Former editor of The Herald, Harry Reid, said: "Despite her high public profile, Annie was a very private person. Her many acts of kindness were done discreetly and graciously. She was a brilliant feature writer, an empathetic interviewer. She was a special journalist and an even more special human being."

Anne, who had been suffering from cancer, died at the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow yesterday.