HE WAS a man of words throughout his working life – and a former Gazette deputy editor has now released his first novel.

Ken Dykes, who joined The Gazette as a junior reporter in 1959, aged 22, has written Joby’s War, a tale following the fortunes of Joby Fulbright.

The self-published book follows the success of Mr Dykes’ autobiography, Country Capers, which told of his life growing up in Basingstoke.

The novel begins with a description of life in the trenches during the First World War, and also follows the hero’s retirement and his struggle with a local gamekeeper.

The 78-year-old said: “Yes, there is sex and some swearing in the book but not an excess of it – you can get plenty of that in some other darker publications. In Joby’s War, despite its grim beginning, there is sunshine and fun and laughter – some tears too.

“After the sorrow, I hope it will leave you with a real feelgood sensation, as novels should.”

The married grandfather-of-three progressed through the ranks at The Gazette to become deputy editor, before switching to the Andover Advertiser as editor in 1983 until his retirement in 1996. He still lives in Andover with his wife Wendy.

Mr Dykes has other projects in the pipeline including a spoof history book, a children’s book, a second volume of his autobiography and a follow-up to Joby’s War.

The new book is available from the Amazon website in paperback and as an e-book.