David Chilcott

David Chilcott, who has died of cancer aged 66, was a stalwart of the Guardian composing room, from the time he joined the newspaper when the Manchester Guardian moved to London in 1961 until his retirement as head printer in 1994. He was in charge in the difficult transition period, after Wapping had finally consigned traditional "hot-metal" printing to the dustbin and before the onset of fully electronic computer publishing. At that time, with a method known as "cut and paste", he spent nearly as much time ensuring that copy was not lost stuck to people's soles as he did overseeing the smooth production of the paper.

He was born in Richmond-upon-Thames and attended Richmond county school for boys. A keen athlete, he won every 100 yards he raced as a schoolboy, was champion of Surrey Schools and became a junior member of Polytechnic Harriers in 1948. In 1956, he was selected for the Olympic Games relay squad, but glandular fever prevented him attending.

He joined the Richmond and Twickenham Times as an apprentice compositor in 1954, and returned after his national service. During the 1960s he did summer seasons on the Daily Herald and Mail before joining the Guardian as a compositor, transferring into junior management and then becoming head printer.

He was so dependable and, in terms of his management position, always so aware of the clock ticking and production responsibilites towards both the outside reader and his editorial colleagues. He had a great knack of getting the very best out of the production workforce, even during the Wapping dispute and the difficult times with the moves to new technology.

In later years his hobbies included walking in the New Forest and Dartmoor with his wife Anthea, a state registered nurse, whom he married in 1956. He developed cancer in 1997 and fought it with great courage. A charming man, full of laughter, he leaves behind a devoted and loving family: his wife, three children, Jayne, Adrian and Lucy, and two grandchildren.

David Leslie John Chilcott, printer, born October 19 1934; died November 8 2000

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