Widow pays tribute to ‘incredible’ Jameson

The final journey for Jameson, 82, who had a heart attack at his home on September 12, was by Victorian horse-drawn carriage which took his casket in a procession through his home town of Worthing, West Sussex.

The carriage, which was adorned with flowers spelling out Derek, travelled to the town’s Offington Park Methodist Church where the funeral service took pace.

His coffin was carried into the church where he was a regular attender by his children and other family members.

During the simple service, attended by family and friends, his widow Ellen spoke of her happy marriage.

Describing her husband, she said: “He was an incredible character, I never forgot Derek was an extraordinary man and a one-off.

“He is the perfect example of a man who lived life to the full.

“The life force was strong in him up to the end. Until a few days before, he was mentally robust, alert, interested, reading his books, watching TV and writing newspaper articles, being interviewed for TV and radio.”

Mr Jameson edited the Daily Express, the Daily Star and the News of the World and was also managing editor of the Daily Mirror, and a popular presenter on BBC Radio 2. He had suffered health problems for most of this year. He leaves Ellen, his third wife, and four adult children.