Trevor Bartlett: Tributes to 'brilliant' photographer killed in crash

Trevor Bartlett, photographed here with Brian Clough, was especially known for his work with Nottingham Forest

Friends have paid tribute to a "dazzlingly brilliant" photographer and "wonderful colleague" who died when he was struck by a police van.

Trevor Bartlett, 80, was hit on the A52 Derby Road, in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, at about 18:30 GMT on Tuesday.

Nottinghamshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Mr Bartlett, who used to work for the Nottingham Post, died at the scene.

He was especially known for his work with Nottingham Forest and friendship with the team's former manager Brian Clough.

Former colleague Jeremy Lewis, who had known Mr Bartlett since 1981, said he was a "dazzlingly brilliant" photographer.

Mr Lewis said: "He'd do royalty, football stars, showbiz stars. He'd do little old lady on a corner plot in St Ann's and he had the gift of getting on with everybody and coming back with magical prints."

He added he was also the "most wonderful colleague".

Mr Bartlett has been described as "sprightly" and "mischievous"

Mr Lewis said: "Everybody loved him at work, they didn't just like him, they loved him because he was such an engaging, selfless, funny character."

He said Mr Bartlett had the confidence of Brian Clough "who, for all his talent, he wasn't an easy man to get to know".

"Trevor was one of the few newspaper people who ever did," said Mr Lewis.

He added: "He told me that his most prized possession was Brian Clough's Forest club blazer, which he gave to him as a token of their friendship.

"The last time I saw him was in September and he was a sprightly, mischievous, twinkly-eyed 80. He was the same old Trevor."

'Guaranteed special picture'

Liz Cartwright, a former journalist who worked with Mr Bartlett for 10 years, said he was a "great character, full of fun, and really engaging, which is why he got brilliant photographs of the subjects".

She added: "He will be very much missed.

"If you knew you were going on a job with Trevor Bartlett, you knew you were going to get great photos, but you were going to have a laugh at the same time."

Mick Holland, former sports editor of the Nottingham Evening Post and Football Post, said people would turn to Mr Bartlett "when they wanted something different or a guaranteed special picture".

He said: "He became a legendary photographer.

"The young reporters absolutely loved him because he'd show them the ropes. He was the kindest, most generous bloke. He was absolutely fabulous.

"People in journalism - the young kids he's tutored - they owe a lot to Trevor."

John Sumpter, who worked with Mr Bartlett at Nottingham Forest and Notts County, said he was "a larger-than-life character".

"He loved working with Cloughy and Cloughy loved him because he made him laugh," he added.

He added Mr Bartlett "was a real genuine guy who loved being a photographer".

The IOPC said it had started an investigation, the coroner had been informed and a post-mortem examination would be carried out later this week.

The police watchdog said Mr Bartlett died after he was hit by a police van while using a pedestrian crossing, close to the Nurseryman pub.

Derrick Campbell, from the IOPC, said: "Our sympathies are with Mr Bartlett's family, who have been devastated by this tragic incident, and everyone else affected."