My friend Dafydd Goff, who has died aged 35 of cancer, was a subeditor for the Guardian known for his wit, intellect and meticulous attention to detail. An immensely popular member of the culture team, he brought an encyclopedic knowledge to the music desk and showed himself to be a steady hand as the department set about achieving a more substantial online presence.

Born in London to a Welsh mother, Ann, and an Anglo-Scottish father, John, he grew up in Merthyr Tydfil. He was proud of his Celtic heritage, adopting the Welsh form of his name while studying English at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Following jobs at the Times and Sunday Times, Dafydd joined the Guardian in 2008. Reliable and committed, he came into his own especially during big projects such as the Glastonbury festival. His dedication was intense, sometimes bafflingly so to others: I remember pleading with him to stay at home after root-canal surgery, but he turned up that afternoon, unable to talk but ready to attack the day's stories and features.

Dafydd's love for music was always evident and his tastes ranged from African soukous to Gaelic folk. It was through music that he met his girlfriend, Claire, their paths crossing at the Green Man festival in Glanusk Park, Powys, in 2006.

His contributions to the Guardian music site shone with his passion for the subject. A piece on Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction was the standout item in a series called My Favourite Album: it explored his religious upbringing and its apparent clash with his love for heavy metal records.

In late 2012, Dafydd went on a retreat to a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands so that he could plot a novel, also based around metal fandom in the Welsh valleys. However, the diagnosis of his illness came soon afterwards and the book remained unfinished. 

Dafydd will be missed greatly by all who knew him at the Guardian. He is survived by Claire and his parents.