ONE of Ayrshire's finest journalists, Archie Venters, died in Ayr Hospital. He was 62.

Mr Venters, who retired last May after 19 years on the Ayrshire Post, was known for his feature writing, and especially for articles on historical subjects, the Armed Forces, and hillwalking. He was also the author of half a dozen adventure stories.

He was born in Springburn, Glasgow, and began his newspaper career on the Sunday Post. He then moved on to Beaverbrook Newspapers, working with both the Evening Citizen and then the Sunday Express in Glasgow.

He became a public relations officer with the Royal Navy in 1964, firstly at Plymouth then Portsmouth before returning to Scotland and living for a time in Straiton with his wife, Elinor, and family, Fiona, Isla, and Alison, before moving to Ayr.

Mr Venters became at one time deputy editor of the Post, but it was as a feature writer that he excelled. His articles were appreciated by ex-patriots throughout the world.

When he retired in May last year, Mr Venters was presented with a typewriter in the hope that he would contribute articles from time to time.