John Cox JOHN Cox a former editor of the Gazette Series sadly passed away on April 15 following a battle with dementia. John, a lifelong Gazette journalist started as a trainee reporter at the Dursley Gazette in 1950, before becoming sports editor, creating the motoring section, editing the Wilts and Glos Standard before becoming editor of the Gazette and group editorial director. His most notable early story was covering the River Severn rail bridge disaster, along with long time Gazette photographer David Ireland. Over the years John was well known as a mentor, being instrumental in several paths to national broadsheets and tabloids for young journalists.