COLLEAGUES and friends have paid tribute to Kent Messenger Group sports journalist Kevin Hingley, who died on Monday, aged 42.

His love and knowledge of sport, his courage in facing illness, and above all his personal charm had touched people all over the county.

Richard Goodenough, chairman of Canterbury Hockey Club, said: “Throughout my dealings with Kevin he was incredibly co-operative and sensitive.

“There were times when I would see him at games and he would look awful, but when I asked him how he was he would say he was OK and just get on with it. He was a real fighter and I admire him greatly for that.”

Kevin, who lived at Westbrook, Thanet, and leaves a nine-year-old daughter, Megan, was one of three brothers, the others Gary and Malcolm, in a keen sporting family. His late father, Peter Hingley, played football for Margate, and Gary rugby for Thanet Wanderers.

At Chatham House Grammar School, Ramsgate, he was in the first team for soccer and hockey, and also played soccer in the Thanet Works League for Waitrose Sports and Longplayer, and cricket for Pegasus, as well as developing a love of both music and motorbikes.

Kidney problems at the age of 17 threatened to end his active involvement in sports, before his mother, Shirley, donated one of her own kidneys for a transplant.

He later competed several times in the British Transplant Games, in events including badminton, long jump, table tennis, throwing and running, winning a clutch of medals.

His badminton partner Paul German, with whom he won doubles gold in 1989 and 1990, and silver in 1991, said: “Kevin was great sportsman and thoroughly enjoyed competing. He would give anything. I shall never forget the moment we won our first gold."

However, a second kidney failure led to many more months on dialysis and another transplant, in April, 2001. He returned to work again, and enjoyed a skiing holiday in Canada with Megan, but was diagnosed with cancer last year.

He had worked at our Canterbury office as a sports reporter and sub-editor since 1989, having joined the KM Group the previous year on the sports desk of the Evening Post and Kent Messenger at Larkfield.

He began his career in journalism with Associated Kent Newspapers in 1979, working at their Margate and Sittingbourne offices.

The KM Group's East Kent senior editor Bob Bounds said: "I was always struck by his calmness and indomitable spirit in the face of the most extreme circumstances. He was a first class journalist, who could have got the top of his profession, but luckily for us he chose to ply his trade locally.

"He was dealt a dreadfully cruel hand but never questioned that nor sought sympathy. We will all gain strength and inspiration simply from having known him. That will be his legacy."

Kentish Gazette columnist Mike Scott, one of Kent’s most experienced journalists, said: “I had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Kevin for many years. He was quiet, unassuming and looked far younger than his age but his somewhat diffident attitude masked a phenomenal knowledge of sport, the people involved in it and the psychology which made them what they are.

“In all the years I knew him I never saw him panic or lose his temper and, although he had an ironic sense of humour, which sometimes came out in his writing, it was never used as a weapon to hurt others.

“If the world had a few more Kevin Hingleys it would be a much better place. He will be sorely missed.”

The funeral will be on Tuesday , February 25, at 3.20pm at Margate Crematorium. Family flowers only, donations to the renal unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Kentish Gazette sports editor Steve Constable writes: "We are going to need all of Kevin’s quiet courage to help us bear his loss.

"Enduring one kidney failure, dialysis, and a transplant was tough enough for anybody, but Kevin went through the whole process twice.

"And never, whether optimistic or frustrated, feeling fit or feeling washed out, heading off to a rain-swept football ground on a Tuesday night, or a dialysis session in the middle of a hectic working day, did he lose his gentle, modest demeanour, nor his wry sense of humour.

"As a supporter of Arsenal, and an antagonist of Welsh rugby, he was my natural enemy, but he always put me down with such subtle wit and absence of malice that I almost looked forward to the ritual Monday morning humiliations.

"Anyway, he could always cheer us up with his legendary impersonation of a certain Faversham Town manager.

"Nor did his battle for health undermine his professionalism as a journalist, where his creative and technical skills were so valued by everyone who ever worked with him.

"His wide sporting knowledge was demonstrated in innumerable quiz sessions, and in a tongue-in-cheek writing style which famously led him to immortalise a Canterbury City striker as: “Effective as a fluffy bunny.”

"All the girls in the office loved him and, frankly, so did the men. Our hurt is compounded with heartfelt sorrow for his beloved Megan, her mother, Sarah, his own mother Shirley, from whom he clearly inherited his bravery, and all their family.

As the Faversham boss would say, Kev, you were just: “Superrrb.”