E&S stalwart Arthur dies suddenly

Arthur Ison, who would have been 66 next week, was found dead in bed at his home in Duffield Close, Pendeford on Wednesday morning.

The previous day he had enjoyed Christmas lunch at the Express & Star head office in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, with his old workmates.

Mr Ison had been with the company for 36 years from October 1971 until he took early retirement in November 2007.

Derek Goold, deputy services manager at the Express & Star, said today: "Arthur was very conscientious.

"He was always early for work and he would help anyone. He lived for the Express & Star."

Mr Ison started work as a cleaner, joining the security staff in 1974. As nightwatchman, he had a reputation for thoroughness, checking and re-checking every door handle and lock in the building on his nightly rounds. He was also a trained firefighter and first-aider.

After clocking off at 6am he would pop into the newsagents around the corner for a daily ice lolly.

He was also a huge fan of watching golf, and would often lobby the Express & Star sports desk to get more coverage of the British Open and other majors in the paper.

Mr Ison was on duty in March 1997 when the Pipers Row car park, next to the Express & Star, collapsed spectacularly in the early hours – on a day that Prince Charles was due to visit the newspaper.

He described "a rumbling noise and a bang." Ever the professional, Mr Ison alerted the reporters.

In 1996 Mr Ison was presented with a long-service award for 25 years service.

"Arthur loved this place," Express & Star commissionaire Paul Padley said today.

"After his retirement he used to drop in every week bringing biscuits or chocolate for the girls.

"When we had lunch on Tuesday he was in great form and seemed in excellent health.

"He was laughing and joking. I can't believe he has gone."

Arthur Stanley Ison was born in December 1943.

He never married but had relatives living in America, whom he visited frequently.