‘Much-loved’ BBC radio legend dies suddenly aged 81 as wife shares touching tribute

A BBC radio legend has died suddenly aged 81 as his wife shared a touching tribute.

David Arscott was a presenter and producer on Radio Brighton and later Radio Sussex from the mid-seventies until 1991.

The father-of-seven passed away on a bench in the grounds of Lewes Priory on November 29 after playing a game of tennis.

He was known in the local community for creating a garden on the corner of Friars' Walk in the town centre.

The grandfather-of-ten also wrote more than 40 books about Sussex.

David started his career as newspaper journalist in London, Dorset and Caracas, Venezuela.

He joined Radio Brighton, which later became Radio Sussex, in the mid-seventies.

The English Literature graduate of Hertford College, Oxford, and his wife Jill settled in Lewes in 1988.

David left the BBC in 1991 and Jill while living in St John's Hill in the Pells.

He was a proud Lewes FC for 25 years.

His first book, Hidden Sussex, was published by BBC Radio Sussex.

The last book he wrote was about the Sussex poet Hilaire Belloc.

David leaves his wife, seven children and ten grandchildren.