TRIBUTES have been paid to an "inspiring" Chester businessman and former newspaper chief.

The Standard has been told that David Faulkner passed away this morning (Tuesday, September 4) after a sudden illness.

David spent 40 years in regional publishing including eight as managing director of NWN Media before it was bought by Newsquest this time last year. He left the company in November 2017.

A prominent figure in the city, he was also president of Chester Business Club.

Paying tribute to him, Bob Clough-Parker, the club's secretary, told this newspaper: "David had been our Club President for 10 years, following a very successful three-year term of office as chairman of the Club.

"He was an inspiring, charismatic character with a gift for leadership who did so much for not only the Club but for the local business community as a whole. Not least, he demonstrated great loyalty and was blessed with a knack of making friends, having fun and not taking himself too seriously.

"He will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

David initially entered the newspaper world as a management trainee for the Thomson Newspapers group, then the largest publisher of regional newspapers in the country.

Over the years he has worked across the UK overseeing a number of large publishing operations.

He was for several years managing director of the Chester Chronicle group of titles owned by Trinity Mirror.

He then worked for Trinity in the Midlands before returning to Chester to become MD of NWN Media Ltd in 2008.

The club has a strong voice in the city representing the business community and also promotes social and charitable activities.

David also served on a number of bodies working towards an economically successful city and region, including: Chester City Centre Management, Chester Business Leadership Forum, a board member of CEWTEC and a director of Ellesmere Port Enterprise Agency.