Tributes have been paid to ‘one of Sidmouth’s favourite sons’, a keen cricketer and footballer, who realised his dreams of becoming a sports reporter.

Martyn Dean lived Sidmouth for almost his whole life, remaining in the town even when working across the South West on television and radio.

After studying at All Saints School, St Nicholas School and The King’s School in Ottery, he went on to Warwick University, where he met his wife to be, Mary.

He was a keen sportsman and a playing member of Sidmouth Cricket Club for more than 40 years – up to the age of 59 he was still keeping wicket.

He also played football for Newton Poppleford and spent a couple of years playing in goal for Sidmouth Town.

Martyn had always wanted to be a sports journalist and eventually landed a job working for the Express and Echo, where he was to become their ‘man at St James Park’.

The opportunity then arose for him to work for the newly formed BBC Radio Devon, where he worked with the likes of Jill Dando and Alan Dedicoat.

Michael, his brother, said Martyn had always been interested in working in television and he moved on to work for Westward TV, BBC Spotlight and Westcountry TV, before finally ending up as a reporter for Sky Sports in the South West.

The Alexandra Road resident was a familiar face at Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, as well as all the local league football clubs and cricket at Somerset County.

During his career he met and interviewed an endless list of sporting superstars, including Bobby Charlton and Bob Paisley.

Michael said: “In his private life Martyn was a loving and caring family man and there is no doubt that his wife, Mary, and daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, were the centre of his universe.”

Martyn died peacefully at home at the age of 62.