Letters, emails and tweets have been heading in my direction, lamenting the retirement of The Northern Echo's best-known writer Mike Amos.

But a bit like reports of Mark Twain's death were somewhat premature, perceptions that this is the end of Amos are also jumping the gun.

Yes, it's true that Mike is officially retiring from his daily duties at The Northern Echo. And yes, it's true that John North, Gadfly, Backtrack and At Your Service will be no more.

But after a short break, Mike will rise from the ashes to write two columns a week from his retirement home. They will be an amalgamation of his well-loved columns and long may they continue to grace the pages of The Northern Echo.

In the meantime, it will be my great pleasure on Wednesday evening to give a reading of thanksgiving to mark Mike's retirement after 46 years of churning out his special brand of tales from every crook and cranny of the North-East.

Journalism is the theme and Mike's remarkable contribution to the profession will be celebrated before colleagues, old and new, pop over the road for a pint or two at The Britannia.

It will be a celebration of a magnificent career - but the Mike Amos story isn't over. And for that, we give thanks.