A true one of a kind... taken from us too soon

When former Sunday Express editor Martin Townsend passed away this month, journalism lost a giant and a gentleman.

- 

Here his three children - Benedict, Oliver and Cordelia - pay tribute to their devoted dad, who made sure he combined his passion for Fleet Street with his beloved family.

HAVING the Editor of OK! magazine and the Sunday Express as a father meant we experienced no ordinary childhood it was a plethora of totally unique activities that produced endless anecdotes.

The three of us Benedict, Oliver and Cordelia all knew the word "journalist" before we could walk, and our family home was always piled full of every newspaper on the market.

It's hard to recall the first time any of us questioned exactly what dad did as a career but we got very used to seeing the Beckhams' OK! magazine wedding page one residing in our hallway.

Our dad's work ethic was unwavering.

The nature of being the Sunday Express Editor meant we all quickly adapted to his unusual Sunday to Monday weekends.

Sometimes he would have to leave family holidays early or spend extended periods of time on the phone with his staff as some breaking story demanded his attention such as the death of the Queen Mother and Margaret Thatcher.

Dad's ever-popular "A word from the Editor" column his comment on everything in news and current affairs would often feature our family's everyday dilemmas. It was always fascinating to see our stories, trials and tribulations presented to a national audience within days of them happening.

Whether it was our inability to find a tea cosy after moving house, or highlighting the lack of working payphones in London after a Tube strike left 11-year-old Oliver forced to walk three miles home.

Just as his dedication to the job never

'He always found time to make us feel loved and appreciated'

wavered, neither did his pride in his work.

To this day, his biggest selling Sunday Express splash "Red Arrows Face Axe", is still framed and proudly displayed in the family home.