Tributes paid to Cambridge journalist and father-of-three Raymond Brown after his death at 62

Tributes have been paid to a charismatic journalist with a nose for a bizarre story who has died at the age of 62.

Raymond Brown, of Victoria Road, Cambridge, died in the early hours of April 1 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after suspected heart failure.

A father of three boys, his untimely death comes six years after his beloved wife Lisa, a GP, died from cancer at the age of just 43.

Raymond, who was originally from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, graduated from Middlesex University in 1992 with a degree in literary and cultural studies and went on to work for Showbiz News in London, breaking exclusives about celebrities that made national headlines.

He moved to the Hertfordshire Mercury series, living in Stanstead Abbotts, where he became a parish councillor, before heading to the Cambridge News, where he worked as a crime reporter.

Chris Elliott, who worked with him there, told the Cambridge Independent: “Raymond was a larger-than-life character, who loved his work as a journalist, and was devoted to his wife and sons. There has been a flood of messages of condolence for his family on the Facebook page set up for former colleagues at. Personally, I will miss him immensely, and will always remember him as a good friend and loving dad.”

While at the Hertfordshire Mercury, then published by Iliffe News and Media, Raymond’s knack of finding bizarre and quirky stories was exemplified by his investigation into Illuminati signs and symbols in Hertford, and the tunnels beneath the town. Staff on Australia’s 60 Minutes even flew over to interview him as he explored whether the town had any connection to the Holy Grail.

Paul Winspear, now editor of the Bishop’s Stortford Independent, was editing the newspaper at the time.

He said: “Huge personality… force of nature… one of a kind: all phrases used by those who worked with Raymond - all fitting. He was a passionate storyteller with a nose for the quirky, bizarre and risqué.

“News of his death hit me like a hammer in the chest. He was such a massive personality, such a burning force, that the idea of him lying lifeless feels like a massive injustice as well as a big loss.”

Raymond and Lisa’s teenage sons are being cared for by family. His other son, from a previous relationship, is grown up.