FORMER sports commentator, Daily Echo writer and doting grandfather, Dave Lanning of Poole, has died at the age of 78.

Born in Poole in March 1938, David Ernest Lanning was a younger brother to Peggy and they were cherished by their parents, Ernest and Catherine.

He first visited the speedway in Poole in April 1948 aged 10, which was to ignite a life-long passion of the sport and would see Phil pursue a career in commentating.

Dave met his future wife, Leona, at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, while covering a beauty pageant, and the couple went on their first date at the Salamander Grille in Westover Road in Bournemouth.

They were married in 1959, both aged 21, and moved from Poole to Manor Park in London the following year, which also saw the birth of their first child, Alyson, followed by middle child, Russell in 1963, and youngest son, Phil, in 1970.

After writing about the darts in local leagues for Daily Echo, Dave took a showbiz writing role for the TV Times, which his son, Phil, says was one of his dad's greatest talents.

Dave was the first journalist based outside of Liverpool to interview The Beatles and also spoke to Cilla Black, Noel Coward, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cat Stevens and managed Frank Ifield.

A chance opportunity saw him cover a darts match in Exeter to test his potential as a sports commentator for an event sponsored by the News of the World, signalled the start of Dave bringing a vast array of sports to the masses, including his beloved speedway.

Dave would go on to work for the Daily Mail, The Sun, the Mirror Group and Sky Sports and joined ITV in 1965, which would lead him to meeting fellow commentator and friend, Sid Waddell, who would together become household names.

Outside of work, he followed West Ham and AFC Bournemouth avidly and son, Phil, says that in the latter years of his father's life, he loved nothing more than renting a beach hut in Sandbanks and watching his grandchildren play on the beach.

He was proud to live in Poole and loved showing his family various places in the town to go for walks, as well as spending time playing golf with his friends.

Dave died on Saturday, October 29 and his immediate family are planning to hold a private funeral, with a celebration of his life set to be arranged at a later date.