• JUST wanted to add my voice to the chorus of praise and regret, (Eric Gordon: Tributes to Camden’s great chronicler as founder and editor of CNJ dies at 89, April 8).

The last conversation I had with Eric was on the bus coming back from the funeral of another great newspaper editor, Gerry Isaaman. He told me all about his time in China during the Cultural Revolution.

Eric was an extraordinarily direct man: a realist and an adventurer.

Nothing seemed to scare him. He and his talented team have made the CNJ a wonderful weekly gift and it’s been a joy to be able to contribute to it from time-to-time.

PIERS PLOWRIGHT, NW3