A FLEET Street journalist who became a theatrical agent and a publisher has died in Southampton aged 93.

Paul Cave established the Hampshire County Magazine in 1960 at 39 Above Bar Street, Southampton. At the same time he bought Brown & Son printers in Crow Arch Lane, Ringwood where the magazine was printed until the 1990s.

Paul, who was also a book publisher, hired Dennis Stevens from the Southern Evening Echo to edit his publication and Dennis remained there until his death when Paul assumed editorship.

At this time the offices moved to Bedford Place, Southampton. Despite his age, Paul worked a full week until he sold his title three years ago.

Born in Guernsey on February 22, 1917, Paul started his career as a journalist on a newspaper in Rhyl, north Wales, after his father, a theatre manager, moved there. During this time Paul met his wife, Joan. They were married for 62 years before Joan died in 2003.

Paul went on to secure a job as reporter with the News Chronicle working in Manchester and Sheffield.

Just before the Second World War, Paul, a cricket lover, had a trial to play for Lancashire but when war broke out he was seconded to Army intelligence in London and Aldershot.

In 1945 he became a feature writer for the Daily Mirror, where he wrote the Spotlight series, looking at education and law. He claimed that some of his articles contributed to the introduction of legal aid. He also wrote pop music reviews for the paper and met legendary crooner Frankie Vaughan, becoming his manager for several years. It was Paul’s idea for Frankie to wear a top hat and to carry a cane.

Paul left the Mirror to set up a theatrical agency in London, managing most of the Chelsea footballers. In the late 1960s he negotiated a deal with Terry Venables for him to transfer from Chelsea to Spurs and arranged for him to get a house, a unique deal for this time.

Success enabled Paul to buy an Alvis car from Mirror Group owner Cecil King.

Comedian Barry Cryer remembered Paul in his autobiography. He was employed by him to answer the phone and recalled how he took a call from Marilyn Monroe, who starred alongside Frankie Vaughan in the film Let’s Make Love.

During Paul’s eventful career, in which he tried to find work for Clint East-wood, he also managed 60s vocal sensations The King Brothers and the pianist Mrs Mills.

Wembley For a short while Paul was managing director of bank-note printers Waterlow and Sons, which was acquired by De La Rue. He also did public relations work for the Labour Party, running shows at Wembley, which reunited him with former Daily Mirror colleague Shirley Williams.

For 15 years he lived in Northerwood House, Emery Down and moved to Southampton in 1992.

He was a magistrate for a number of years and established a sports project for young offenders, which operated across Hampshire.

He leaves four children and two grandchildren.

A funeral will take place at Southampton Cremator-ium at 2pm on Tuesday.