Eric Gordon, founding editor of the Camden New Journal, died in April 2021

• I HAVE fond memories of Eric Gordon, who died two years ago this month.

He didn’t know me when I emailed him, researching my debut novel, a political thriller which centres on a renegade journalist working for a local newspaper in Camden.

I was looking for background material on what it was like to work on a local paper. Despite my reassurances that the local newspaper would be fictitious, I was aware that he might be dubious about sharing details which could suggest I was spoofing the CNJ.

Far from it. I expected a brief phone call at best. Instead, we chatted for a couple of hours over lunch at a local café. Eric was wonderfully forthcoming and gave me invaluable insights into the life of a local journalist, which vastly improved the book.

His support continued when The Breaking of Liam Glass was published and the CNJ gave it a prominent and positive review, by Piers Plowright, which took up the most part of a page.

It’s been said before, and will be said again, he was very special.

CHARLES HARRIS, NW3