JOURNALIST Norman Fowler, whose name has been associated with the media in Kent for almost 40 years, has died aged 71.

One of the most respected figures in his profession, Mr Fowler originated from Griffithstown, near Pontypool, where he was born in 1932, and he was educated at West Monmouth Grammar School.

On leaving school, he began his career on local newspapers, completing his training before joining the Royal Air Force for two years national service.

It was during this time, while stationed just outside Nottingham, that he met his future wife, Connie, at the local Methodist Church.

The couple lived for a time in Wales, where Mr Fowler continued his journalistic career in Newport and Cardiff, working as a district reporter.

Then followed a move to Yorkshire, where Mr Fowler took up a post on the Wakefield Express. As well as covering village news, he found himself regularly attending magistrates courts and it was this that awakened what was to become a life-long interest in the law courts.

A move to the south was prompted by a bout of pneumonia, which left Mr Fowler asthmatic, and the couple and their son and daughter settled in Lenham, near Maidstone.

In June 1965, a number of newspapers in the county set up an agency with the specific purpose of covering the law courts - initially Assizes and Quarter Sessions - and eventually to become the Crown Courts.

As manager of the agency, Mr Fowler headed a team of reporters providing court coverage not only for these newspapers, but also for radio, television, and national newspapers.

His accuracy and attention to detail won the respect of judges and lawyers and went a long way towards gaining for the Kent Press, a reputation for care in the handling of court reporting.

Over the years he maintained his outside interests, which included music - he was organist at Lenham Parish Church for a number of years - and he very much enjoyed travelling.

But, since his retirement particularly, his four grandchildren were his life, and he loved nothing better than to spend time with his son Michael's two boys and his daughter Susan's two girls.