Friends and colleagues paid tribute on Tuesday to Phil Trotter, a chief sub editor at The National, who has died at the age of 62.
Phil had been receiving palliative care for cancer and died in hospital in Abu Dhabi.
"Phil's dedication to journalism was exemplified in his decades-long career in the profession. As a chief sub editor, he ensured we were held up to the best standards. He will be missed," said Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National.
Born and brought up in Bearsden, a suburb of Glasgow in Scotland, Phil went to school in the nearby town of Milngavie, and graduated from Glasgow University in 1984 with an MA (Honours) in Scottish and English literature.
His first job in journalism was with The Sunday Post, initially in Glasgow and later at the newspaper's main newsroom in Dundee. Phil then joined The Herald in Glasgow as a news sub editor, and worked there for 15 years before moving to Abu Dhabi to join The National in 2011.
"Throughout his treatment, he was always looking forward to returning to work," said Nic Ridley, night editor at The National. "I was always impressed by his intelligence, his integrity and his passion for good journalism.
"He helped to strengthen The National's reputation as a quality news publication, and for that we are truly grateful. The experience he brought to the job will be missed."
Ross Anderson, a former colleague at The National and a relative of Phil's by marriage, said: "Phil and I grew up together in Bearsden, and our families became even closer when his brother married my sister. He was a first-class journalist and a good friend.
“He had the highest professional standards, and little patience for those who failed to meet them, so he could be spiky. But whenever he was being grumpy or difficult, all I had to do was remember the curly-haired kid I used to play football with in Killermont Park, and everything was fine.
“Phil was also a true Scot. He adored salmon fishing, and he had a collection of traditional Scottish folk music that was both extensive and much loved.
“Possibly the only thing he prized more was shoes, and he had an extensive collection of those too. Only the finest leather would do, preferably Italian or Spanish.”
Phil married three times. He is survived by his elder brother, Robin, and younger sister, Kirsty.
