Tributes to journalist and partner who died in fire at luxury hotel

Tributes have been paid to two men who died in a blaze at a luxury hotel.

Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson, from London, were guests at the five-star Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond when flames took hold on Monday morning.

More than 70 firefighters fought the blaze at the resort but one of the men died at the scene and the other passed away at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Mr Midgley was a freelance journalist at the London Evening Standard and ran his own PR company.

Evening Standard editor George Osborne said: “We will miss Simon’s adventurous spirit. Everyone sends our thoughts and prayers to his family at this impossible time.”

Digital director David Tomchak added: “Simon was a talented writer with a natural charm and curiosity. The Evening Standard will miss him sorely.”

John Payne, of Hope Church in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said Mr Dyson’s parents had asked their local church to pray for the family.

He wrote on Facebook: “As you can imagine both Roger and Val are devastated. They have asked us to pray for them and the family.

“Please pray for them, for the God of all comfort to make his presence so powerfully known in the midst of their pain.

“Our hearts go out to them and I’m sure they’d welcome your love and support at this awful time.”

An online fundraising page, organised by their neighbour Gary Steel, has been set up to support the families of both men.

Richard Dyson, left, and Simon Midgley died in the fire on Monday.