Phil Baldy, who had been a sports producer at Radio Sheffield and a news producer at Radio Derby, has died.  He was 62 and had been suffering from prostate cancer.

Phil had trained as a journalist on a trade publication and on the Essex Chronicle.  He moved to Raymonds and worked in their Derby and Stoke offices, before joining the BBC.

Later he joined Derbyshire County Council in the Press Office and eventually became head of Communications.  He worked closely with the council leader, David Bookbinder, in persuading Toyota to build their new factory in Derbyshire.

He leaves a son and a daughter.

Funeral details to follow.

This is taken from the This is Derbvshire website:

Charity worker and avid Derby County fan

Remembering former Derbyshire journalist and avid Derby County fan Phil Baldy, who died on 14 December, 2009, aged 62 following a battle with cancer.

Mr Baldy, a father of two, worked at city press agency Raymonds, Radio Derby and for Derbyshire County Council.

He also spent many years working for various charities and was described as an incredible dad by daughter Kate and son Chris.

Kate said: "Dad was always cheerful, jolly and was very kind. He was incredibly kind-hearted.

"He had many friends and was an amazing dad.

"He was a devoted Derby County fan – when both my brother and I were born we were signed up as junior Rams straight away.

"He would follow the progress of the club avidly and when he lived in Derbyshire he would always be at the matches."

Mr Baldy lived in Brassington, Derbyshire, until about 10 years ago, when he moved to London.

He had trained as a journalist on the Essex Chronicle before moving to work for press agency Raymonds, later joining the BBC.

Mr Baldy also worked for Derbyshire County Council in the press office and eventually became the director of public relations.

As well as a successful career in the media, he spent many years as a fund-raiser and as a press officer for a variety of charities, including the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Prostate Cancer Charity and most recently the Dystonia Society.

He had worked closely with the former Derbyshire County Council leader David Bookbinder in persuading Toyota to build its new factory in Derbyshire.

Mr Bookbinder said: "I have known Phil for the best part of 35 years.

"He was very strong-willed in a very quiet way, as he was such a mild-mannered man.

"We shared an obsession with football, but top of his agenda was his family, particularly his children.

"I am proud to be able to call him my friend."

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire County Council, for which Mr Baldy worked between 1978 and 1991, said: "Phil had a great sense of humour and was always full of fun. He was an extremely popular and hard-working colleague who was tireless in his efforts to promote and publicise council services, especially for the vulnerable and those most in need.

"Those who knew him will miss him enormously.”