NICHOLAS Algernon Sharman, a member of the family which founded the Cambridgeshire Times newspaper, has died aged 65.

Mr Sharman, known as Nick, had motor neurone disease. He died at his home in Wansford.

He joined the family business Sharman and Co after studying journalism and business and eventually became its finance director.

The newspaper group was founded in 1872 by the March family and was owned by them until it was sold to Thomson Regional Press in 1989.

Nick worked alongside brothers Patrick and John in the newspaper group which had seven papers including the Cambridgeshire Times, Wisbech Standard and the last paid-for weekly newspaper in Peterborough - the Peterborough Standard.

After the sale of the newspaper group Nick and Patrick concentrated on contract printing at Fengate, Peterborough. Two of Nick’s sons now run the printing business.

March author and historian Trevor Bevis worked for Sharman’s for 45 years as a lino-type operator at the company works next to St Peter’s Church in High Street and then as a type setter at Peterborough.

Mr Bevis said: “Nicholas was a real whiz kid with figures. He was a true gentleman, very polite and with an engaging smile. He would often walk around talking to everyone.

“He was very involved with the new technology and was good at deciding whether something was worth having or not.”

Nick leaves a wife Lis, five children Mark, Zoe, Thomas, James and Hannah; and two grandsons.