The widow of a former Evening Standard production editor who died of coronavirus this week has paid tribute to a “wonderful man”.

Brian Hood died on Wednesday aged 67 in hospital in Ashford, Kent. Brian was admitted for cancer treatment after a long-running battle but caught Covid-19 and “was gone in a matter of hours”, his wife Alison said.

Brian, who has two sons, retired in 2018 after 25 years with the Standard as a sub-editor and then as production editor on the business pages.

The horse racing fanatic began his career in journalism on the Clitheroe Advertiser and Blackpool Gazette. He would go on to work in Hong Kong for the South China Morning Post and the Wall Street Journal before freelancing for most of the newspapers on Fleet Street. He was due to join the Standard on October 22 1993 but had to take his first day off due to the birth of his second son.

Alison Hood said: “How can you feel two such intense emotions at the same time: all consuming sadness at losing him and intense happiness that I was lucky enough to have had this man in my life. Brian was loved and respected by everyone who met him. I can’t think of a single person who would disagree with that statement.

“Amazing husband, wonderful father and loyal friend, Brian was loved and respected by so many people and it has been heart warming to hear from so many of you today as we shared our sadness and favourite memories of this wonderful man. I love you, honey, and long may you ‘look out to sea’.”

Evening Standard City Editor Jim Armitage said: “Brian would be embarrassed at having his name in lights but quietly rather proud, I hope.

“A wonderful man who put up with a lot of mayhem from a chaotic business editor with calm, good grace.”

A funeral is unlikely due to the coronavirus outbreak but a celebration of Brian’s life is planned.