FORMER Sun journalist Dave Bootle has died aged 86.
The Features production supremo worked at the paper for more than 30 years after joining back in the days when The Sun was based just off Fleet Street.
He was a familiar figure in our offices, sporting stylish waistcoats long before Gareth Southgate made them popular again.
Dave also managed The Sun’s football team, which included two of the paper’s columnists – former England strikers Jimmy Greaves and Malcolm “Supermac” Macdonald.
Dave built his newspaper career at The Evening Mail in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and later became editor of The Ilford Recorder.
The dad of two was born in Bethnal Green, East London, and lived for more than 50 years in Dagenham where he was a well-known and much-liked local figure.
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He was married to Hazel for more than 30 years.
After her death, Dave was married to Philomena for 24 years.
Dave, who died peacefully a few days before Christmas, is survived by Philomena and his sons David and Stephen.
The funeral will be held at South Essex crematorium in Upminster on Monday, January 12 at 12.30pm.
