Now, after a delve through the archives, he has produced a book of around 140 articles, approximately half of those published in the newspaper.

The selected works carry a varied outlook on the changing face of North Tyneside and the world in general, with a tone ranging from the philosophical to the amusing while retaining a perspective which makes the reader investigate their own thoughts on the subject being considered.

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The celebrated author and playwright has a wry sense of humour which he portrays in a colourful prose similar that of his appearance – a man in his 60s who clearly enjoyed the period he spent as a burgeoning young man taking his early steps in the cut-throat world of journalism.

Ever wary of press deadlines, the author's columns have winged their way to the newsroom from destinations as far flung as the northern US city of Minneapolis, the mountains of Yemen in the Middle East and the isolation of the Island of Jura – 'the land that time forget' as he so eloquently commented in his piece penned while staying in the cottage where George Orwell wrote 1984.

While lavished with humour, sprinkled with anecdotes and adorned with character, Mortimer's columns can also carry an edge which question the reasoning of major establishments.

The wisdom of North Tyneside Council and the management of Metro operator Nexus are just two of those to feel the force of the writer's arguments.

But possibly the most touching piece in the book is that datelined April 12, 2007 – 'A society in denial, a shame it's convenient to forget'.

In it he questions how we treat our elderly citizens as many find themselves in care, seeing out the end of their days.

The article revolves around visits to see his own mother and how he witnesses her deteriorating state of mind in unfamiliar surroundings.

A moving perspective which rightly raised serious questions on the attitude of modern society to such an emotive subject.

In summary the book offers a fascinating insight into the mind of an artist, highlighting his literary talents on a platform which is rare for an author and playwright.

It also allows regular readers of the newspaper column the chance to indulge in a selection of his offerings from the past four years and ten months.

Mortimer At Large is published by IRON Press/North Tyneside Libraries & Museums and is priced £8.

Copies can be ordered via any bookshop, via Amazon, the IRON Press website (www.ironpress.co.uk), Inpress (inpressbooks.co.uk), or bought locally at the News Guardian office, T & G Allan and Imperiya 84, all in Park View, Whitley Bay.

• Peter Mortimer will be giving readings from the book at the White Swan Centre, Killingworth, on Thursday, March 27, from 7.30pm to 9pm.

He follows this up with daytime events in the Shiremoor Centre on Tuesday, April 1; Whitley Bay Library on Thursday, April 3, and North Shields Library on Monday, April 7 – all from 12.30pm to 2pm, with tea and biscuits provided.