David Irvine, who has died aged 88 after a long illness, was a born storyteller. He reported for the Guardian for more than 27 years, first on northern rugby union and cricket and then, for 20 years, as the tennis correspondent.
He was a craftsman, known as “king of the ad-libbers” on the circuit, for his enviable ability to dictate huge pieces to copytakers off the top of his head. His son Chris, also a journalist, remembers: “He would do 1,200 words on a Wimbledon final without any notes, and that inspiration sharpened his writing. It was his forte, him really enjoying himself, loving what he did, just being an out-and-out journalist of the old school.”
