Journalist Jack Webster, 88, who interviewed Ali and Chaplin

A north-east journalist who ghosted a newspaper column for Muhammad Ali and was friends with Bing Crosby has died.

Jack Webster was told early in his life, after being diagnosed with a leaking heart valve, that he should settle for a job in a bank.

But the Maud-born farmer’s son proved doctors wrong and spent the next 60 years defying obstacles – from overcoming a stammer to be UK Speaker of the Year in 1996, to trumping his press rivals by gaining access to international figures, including Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Ginger Rodgers, Pele and George Best. He also landed a world exclusive with Charlie Chaplin at the Tivoli Theatre in Aberdeen by booking into the same hotel as him.

Mr Webster’s journalistic career, honed on a passion for Sunset Song author Lewis Grassic Gibbon, started at the Turriff Advertiser before 10 years at The Press and Journal. He then moved to Glasgow and joined the Daily Express.

He became the Scottish equivalent of Michael Parkinson, interviewing many of the biggest stars of stage and screen. Son Geoff said: “Dad managed to set up some remarkable meetings with the likes of Chaplin and Ali. He learned the former – who had refused to speak to journalists after being hounded out of America – was staying in Banchory.

“So he checked into the hotel, got talking to the great man and asked if he would like to revisit the Tivoli, where Chaplin performed early in his career. He said yes and that was a huge scoop.

“When Ali came to Britain to fight Henry

Cooper (in 1966), dad became the ghost writer of his columns in the build-up to the fight and there’s a lovely picture of the two of them together.”

Father-of-three Mr Webster had many interests and occupations. He wrote 18 books, including a comprehensive history of Aberdeen FC for its centenary in 2003, and the club paid tribute.

A spokesman said: “His book on AFC is regarded as the definitive history of that era and is frequently referenced for historical articles. A true gentleman, Jack will be sorely missed.”

Despite describing himself as a “wee boy from Maud”, his love of journalism lasted a lifetime and was inherited by his three sons, Geoff, Keith, and Martin.

Mr Webster died on Tuesday, aged 88. His wife, Eden, predeceased him by more than 30 years.

Jack Webster died aged 88.