A MEMORIAL service is to be held for one of the region's best-known art critics, who died last month.

Bill Johnson, a well-known figure in the North-East arts world for 50 years, died in May aged 75, at Teesdale Lodge Nursing Home, Stockton. He left four children and eight grandchildren.

The Northern Echo's art critic for 40 years, he had a larger-than-life personality and wide knowledge as an art historian and critic.

After the war he moved to Stockton and worked at Tarslag, later Tarmac, developing his talent for writing by introducing an arts section to the company in-house magazine.

He then devoted himself full-time to freelance art criticism and lecturing to support his four children.

As an art critic for The Northern Echo, he ran art history courses at universities and polytechnics across the North-East.

He worked to deliver the revolution in learning brought about by the Open University and devoted much of his life to bringing the arts to a wider audience.

Mr Johnson was a pioneer of life-long learning, running Durham University's extra-mural centre in Hartington Road, Stockton.

His first articles in The Northern Echo were signed W E J - a byline that became his nickname, Wedge.

The memorial service for Mr Johnson will be held tomorrow at St Patrick's Church, Fairfield Road, Stockton, at 11am.