Former Reg Hardware reporter James Sherwood died this weekend after suffering an epileptic seizure during his sleep. He was 28.

James joined El Reg in 2007, returning to journalism - he had been a reporter on Computer Reseller News - after a foray to the Dark Side as PR manager for networking distributor Zycko.

But his passion was reporting, and he brought a genuine enthusiasm for journalism and technology to Reg Hardware, quickly establishing himself as a key member of the editorial team.

"James' dedication to his work was exemplary," said Reg Hardware Editor Tony Smith, "but what really stands out in my mind was his quirky sense of humour and his knack for uncovering technological oddities and making great, hugely popular stories out of them.

"He was a genuine pleasure to work with, and a bloody nice guy.

"His death has been a shock to all his former colleagues here on Reg Hardware and The Register, and our thoughts are with his parents John and Sue."

James graduated from the University of Central Lancashire, where he studied journalism, in 2004 and went straight into reporting, initially as a freelance.

He left Reg Hardware in 2010, and went on to work with website Consumer Choices and, most recently, Bite Communications. ®