Andrew Golden, who died on August 1 of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, will be remembered by his very many friends not only as a superb reporter but also as an exceptional musician, author, composer and conversationalist.

He was born in Salisbury in December 1949. After school, he went to Salisbury College to study Law and Journalism before landing a job on the Salisbury Journal. 

He was also a keen drummer from a young age and recalled practicing in his parents’ suburban garden in Roberts Road, to the annoyance of neighbours, using stretched plastic sheeting for drum skins.

Geoff Sweet, who was also a reporter on the Journal and worked with Andy, said: “I always looked upon him as a hero of mine, not just as a musician but also as a journalist.”

He played a major part in bringing reviews of concerts, records and performances into the Journal as well as initiating “Sound Tracks,” a weekly modern music comment page that earned a large and faithful following.

But he also bought a harder and worldlier approach to the paper, with articles and features that covered outside events that affected everybody.

Meanwhile, he was already playing and guesting in numerous local bands and could be seen, in Wedgwood Wing, in various line-ups with Tich Amey, Robin Gair, Peter Mason, Yan Webber, the Taylor sisters and John Hatchman, as well as being a regular at blues jams that would feature Ken Lailey, Pete Catlin, Andy Sheppard, assorted Collinsons and many others, including me.

In 1973, with his new prog-rock band, Grandma Moses, he took part in a Melody Maker contest at Southampton University: another band that was competing was Gland Band, in which I played guitar and keyboards. Shortly after that, I had a call from Andy asking if I would join Grandma Moses, and I accepted.

Then began a whirlwind of rehearsals, song writing, practices and gigs, with a core line-up of Andy, Brad Bradbury, Chris Glover, Paul McElhatton and me.

Although the band would change and reform numerous times, there was always the basic core of Brad, Andy and me.

We played all over the country, backing bands such as BeBop DeLuxe, Dr Feelgood, Decameron and many others, and in such unlikely locations as Longleat, Gough’s Cave in Cheddar Gorge, The Red House Club in Romford, East London and Baron’s Court Tavern, in both of which we had residencies, Salisbury Playhouse and The Arts Centre.

For two years Ian Gillan of Deep Purple managed the band: we played hundreds of gigs. He, Brad and I also went out as duos and trios.

Later, he would, play in local bands the Britz and the ESB Band, while somehow progressing his growing career in journalism.

He became, by sheer hard work and unswerving self-belief, a senior reporter for the Mirror Group, and became the Father of the Chapel for the Sunday Mirror for ten years, first for the National Union of Journalist and then for the British Association of Journalists.

But not only was he a superlative investigative journalist, he also played a leading role in stabilising the Mirror Pension Fund when the theft and fraud perpetrated by Robert Maxwell and his associates came to light.

Maxwell and his henchmen tried repeatedly to sack Andy for his union activities, but he saw them off time and time again: he and the Union started proceedings against the management and many came forward to give evidence in court on Andy’s behalf.

The case was finally settled out of court in 1988.

In a complete turnaround, the MGN pensioners voted for Andy to represent them as a Trustee on the Pension Scheme’s Trustee Board in October 1999 – Golden had not left the building.

A former colleague of his told me: “There is a large number of pensioners who will always be grateful to Andy for what he achieved for them.”

None of us will ever quite know how he managed to keep his musical career growing all the time while this was happening, first playing in The Pirates with legendary guitarist Mick Green, then with Eric Bell, founder of Thin Lizzy and guitarist for the first three albums, and latterly with Full House, with Frankie Miller’s guitarist Ray Minhinnet.

In 2015, he played drums on some of “Double Take,” a double album of Frankie Miller’s songs recorded in Francis Rossi’s studio, performed by a whole host of stars, including Elton John, Joe Walsh, and Willie Nelson.

Andy played his kit for Kid Rock, Steve Dickinson and Delbert McClinton. With Eric Bell and Mick Green he toured Europe, Scandinavia and the UK, even playing a series of sold-out gigs in Ukraine.

He also wrote several books, sometimes with his great friend, the illustrator Alastair Graham.

As he slowly faded, looked after so well by his son Matt and his wife Natsue, not to mention his two granddaughters Nanaho and Ren, he continued to compose more and more polyphonic music, much of it very lovely.

One of his last and most affecting works was “Fire Fire, Planet’s on Fire,” beautifully sung by twelve-year-old Nanaho.

There are so many funny and interesting stories to tell about Andy, but there is one that even he never tired of hearing.

In Grandma Moses, we were playing at a summer ball deep in Cheddar Caves: it was a last-minute thing as the band booked had had a fight before the gig and injured each other.

It was packed with stars, Joan Collins and Oliver Tobias among them. After our first set, I noticed a hirsute young man looking at Andy’s drum kit and chatting to him.

It was obvious he was asking to sit in on a few numbers, but A did not like any amateur even touching his drums. Andy came back to join Brad and me, scowling.

I couldn’t resist asking him, “And what exactly did Simon Kirke (of Free and Bad Company) want, then, Doc?” using his abbreviated anagrammatic nickname, Dr Wanglenode. He stammered a bit, went white, then had to laugh and said “Oh, ****.”

There have been many tributes from the world of music and from the world of journalism: Full House plays Frankie Miller said: “So shocked to hear of the passing of old friend Andrew Golden.

"He will be greatly missed by many. Sincere condolences to Andy’s family from all of us at Full House. Journey on, old Pal.”

Those countless Sunday mornings and Saturday nights at our house, over 200 of them, when we put the world to rights, have ended forever. His death leaves a hole in many people’s lives: we really will never see his like again.

Perhaps we’ll leave the last word to the great Eric Bell.  “I have just heard that my friend Andy Golden, drummer in the Eric Bell band for many years, has passed away.

"I had such fond memories of Andy: when he joined the band I remember his enthusiasm for everything and his amazing energy: he loved expressing himself on the drums and loved the finer things in life. To sum it up, he was a real gentleman. My sympathy goes out to all members of his family. Rest in peace, Andy, and God bless you. Eric.”