Tributes pour in for Capital broadcast star Allan

Allan Robb, who was best known as the host of Radio 5 Live's midday news, grew up in the Capital, where he took one of the first steps in his career with Radio Forth.

His best friend since school days and BBC colleague Nicky Campbell led the tributes to the news anchorman, saying it was "one of the saddest days of my life".

The pair met on their first day at Edinburgh Academy and instantly struck up what turned out to be a close, lifelong friendship.

Mr Robb began his career with Northsound Radio in Aberdeen, before moving on to Radios Forth and Tay, Radio 1 and Radio Scotland.

Many will remember him as the host of Reporting Scotland in 1993. He joined Radio Five in 1994 and remained there for 12 years.

Stations controller Adrian Van Klaveren said: "Allan had a quiet authority and warmth to his broadcasting that listeners loved – he was a great professional and is a great loss to the radio industry."

The 49-year-old, who died on Thursday night, was fiercely proud to have worked for the BBC and never lost his love of his home city.

He reported for the corporation on many of the biggest world news events of recent years, including the death of Princess Diana in 1997, when he was broadcasting live and recorded the shocked reaction of interviewee Nelson Mandela.

He also reported live from Sydney at the turn of the millennium, and was broadcasting from Paris in 2005 when London stunned the sporting world by beating the French capital to the right to host the 2012 Olympics.

Although born in Ilford in Essex, his family moved to Edinburgh when he was four months old.

At school, he won drama awards, sang in the choir and played the violin.

A spokesman for the school said: "He was certainly very highly regarded here.

"We did a lot of work with music here and drama, winning prizes for both.

"He and Nicky Campbell were always great friends and indeed went up to Aberdeen together."

Despite spending most of his adult life away from Edinburgh, he said in a 1993 interview: "Every time I come back a smile starts to develop on to my face that I can't explain and I can't wipe."

His career followed a similar path to his great friend Campbell. They both spent many successful years at 5 Live, and attended university together in Aberdeen.

Their lives seemed so similar that at Mr Campbell's wedding he joked: "Does this mean I have to get married now?"

Paying tribute to his "greatest friend", Mr Campbell said: "He was a great broadcaster and professional and had a quick, and agile mind, asking questions that people couldn't hide from."

Recalling the sense of honour his friend felt at working for the BBC, Mr Campbell told how one day as they walked down the road in London, he pointed up at Broadcasting House, and said proudly: "We work there for the BBC."

He is survived by a 12-year-old son.