At 17-years-old he joined the Bacup Times in the Rossendale Valley as a cub reporter.
He did his apprenticeship on the job covering the likes of church fellowship meetings.
But he rose to be a colossus in the newsrooms of both national and regional newspapers.
Brian Rhodes, who has died aged 75, was a highly respected Assistant Editor of the Manchester Evening News.
But the title fails to capture the importance of his presence at the paper for 20 years.
As one former colleague said, he ran "the engine" of the newsroom, joining the staff in the days when 350,000 copies a night of the MEN were being sold.
He had a reputation for being tough but fair and was a key mentor to reporters, sub editors, and news editors.
His glances when in the heat of wrestling with a major story could be steely but his encouragement was authentic and priceless to those stepping up to the pace and standards required at the MEN.
When he arrived at the MEN in 1985, then based in Deansgate in the city centre, it was from the Daily Mail, next door in Hardman Street.
Paul Horrocks, Editor of the Manchester Evening News from 1997 to 2009, said: "Brian was an outstanding journalist with vast experience on both national and regional newspapers. There wasn’t much in the news agenda he had not experienced before and nothing got past his keen eyes and sharp wit. He always showed excellent judgement.
“Brian ran the engine room of the MEN - it’s sub-editing operation was a master class in projecting stories and pictures to their best. He was a tough taskmaster, good fun to be with, and he always ran on full power. But inside there was a heart of gold.”
Former MEN sub editor, Judy Gordon, said: "I recall we started at the MEN on the same day - I was a sub editor and he was one of my bosses.
"He was unflappable and always at his most calm in a crisis. Decisive, determined, and organised - I was envious of his journalistic skills and his rapid grasp of a situation.
"He was once ordered by a superior to tell me off - rather unfairly. As I stood by his desk, watched from a distance by the boss, he waved his arms about theatrically, saying 'I am telling you off now so try to look suitably admonished'.
"As well as my boss, he was often involved in union affairs when I was a journalists' negotiator. He was tough, often sympathetic and a very reasonable man to deal with. But never a push-over.
"He was also very kind to me personally when I had a period of ill health. He was generous and thoughtful, even coming into the office on his day off to help me adapt my desk and computer. He let me use his office when I needed to rest. I recovered my health but I never forgot his kindness."
Former MEN reporter, Helen Tither, said: "Just to add to the many examples of Brian being one of the good guys, he gave me my big break in journalism by helping me find a funded National Council for the Training of Journalists course when I was temping as his secretary, totally broke after Uni and thinking I would never even afford to do the training.
"He later offered me a job as trainee reporter and I can still remember how gobsmacked I was. Someone would take a chance on me. What a gent."
Other former MEN staff also paid tribute to Brian. David Pickard described him as "one of the finest journalists I ever worked with" adding "very demanding standards but always fair and considerate."
Former MEN News Editor, Lisa Roland, said: "Tough but totally fair and someone to respect."
James Ross, a former executive editor of the MEN, said: "Very sad news. A wonderful colleague and a good friend who had every editorial skill."
Photographer Paul Sanders said: "I always liked him. He taught me to always give my best, respect the people we wrote about and take responsibility for my own mistakes - a real fair but tough man."
Dave Thomas, who worked as an MEN reporter and news editor, said: "He was a great guy who was the power behind the throne. He steered the MEN out of many storms and was always cool and calm in a crisis.
"Many times I went down to his office for “counselling” sessions and came out full of beans again."
After starting his career in Bacup, Brian moved to the Burnley Star and then the Newcastle Journal working as a reporter.
He joined the Daily Mail in 1971 working as a sub-editor, in Manchester, and doing shifts for the News of the World at weekends.
An established force at the Mail, when the national newspaper relocated most of its staff to London Brian switched to the MEN.
Former MEN sub-editor David Graham's career followed a similar path to Brian's.
He said: "Brian was my oldest and one of my closest friends and colleagues. We first worked together as teenage reporters on local newspapers in the Rossendale Valley, a great grounding in accuracy, responsibility and accountability, because we lived in the community - and Brian epitomised those values throughout his and my career on the Daily Mail and the Manchester Evening News.
"His professional judgement was sound, although I did question his decision to let me crew his dinghy in the Lake District at times - he was a skilled skipper even though he did scare me rigid.
"Work or play, he was always solid and dependable - a much valued and very dear friend."
Brian, who lived in Rawtenstall, leaves wife, Suzanne, and their children, Alastair, David, and Elizabeth.
