TRIBUTES have been paid to a former hospital secretary and historian.

Harry Gaston, 86, from Newhaven, passed away in hospital following a short illness.

Mr Gaston had been associated with hospitals in Brighton since 1950, working as a senior administrator responsible for the day to day management of nine hospitals when he took early retirement in 1983.

He was the founding editor of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust’s national award winning staff magazine Bulletin and remained as editor until it stopped production in 2007.

Mr Gaston also wrote on hospital and health topics for the Hospital and Health Services Journal.

Together with his colleague Sarah-Anne Morley and retired surgeon Philip Somerville he was responsible for an exhibition on the history of medicine in Brighton for the Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and for researching the major Millennium Walk exhibition on Brighton hospital history at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

In 2007 he played a major role in researching the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital exhibition currently on display near the new hospital on the Royal Sussex County Hospital site.

He was awarded a doctorate by the University of Sussex in 1992 for his research into the development of hospital services for the elderly chronic sick from 1930 until 1974.

An essay based on part of the research won him the Royal Institute of Public Administration's Haldane Silver medal.

Mrs Morley said: “He was a mentor, a friend and was never judgmental.

“Harry’s love of people was undeniable. His door was always open and he treated everyone as equals, never judging them and always welcoming them, no matter what their background.

In his later life Harry continued working, drawing on his local historical knowledge to produce six books on hospital history and the workhouses thoroughly enjoyed by many.”

Mr Gaston was a big supporter of the Friends of Brighton Hospitals, with proceeds from his books going to the charity.

He also served as a trustee from 2008 to 2015.

A spokeswoman said: “Harry was a kind and generous man who enjoyed a varied and full life.

“He had a long and successful career as a hospital administrator and acted as editor of The Bulletin, the long running staff magazine at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

“We valued his strong commitment to fair healthcare for all and his wide-ranging experience of the NHS in the city.”

A trust spokesman said: “For many years Harry wrote and produced the Trust’s Bulletin magazine and also wrote several books about the county hospital and other sites locally.

“He was a great historian of our hospital and its memories and he will be sadly missed.”

Mr Gaston’s funeral takes place today (weds oct 12) at the south chapel of Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, at 3.30pm.