Death of former Editor

Peter Saunders, editor of The Birmingham Post from 1984 until 1989, has died at his home in South Wales, aged 85. He had been suffering from cancer.

He is seen here (with Peter Freeman on the keyboard) during a visit by Birmingham’s civic head to the Post & Mail’s editorial hall.

Born in Newport, South Wales, he studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science before embarking upon his journalistic career with the Gloucestershire Echo. He moved on to the Sunderland Echo in 1962 as a sports reporter and sub-editor before joining the Yorkshire Post the following year.

A former lecturer in journalism at Cardiff College of Commerce, he started work at The Birmingham Post in the middle 1960s, rising from sub-editor to assistant chief sub-editor, chief sub-editor, assistant editor, deputy editor executive editor and, eventually, editor. He was at the helm of the Post from 1984 until 1989.

Alongside his position at The Birmingham Post from 1973 until well into his retirement, Peter was a guest lecturer for the International Institute for Journalism in Berlin, which involved running seminars at the Institute and travelling to many developing countries, including Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, Bangladesh, India, Egypt, Nepal and Tanzania, to promote press freedom.

Peter, who died on 1 April, moved back to Newport in 2002 to enjoy his longtime passion of Welsh rugby.

He is survived by Teresa, his wife of 62 years, his two daughters, Rachel and Gail, and three grandchildren.

Paying tribute, former Birmingham Post business reporter Barry Phillips described Peter as calm in the editor’s chair and always approachable. “And this was at a period of some turmoil in ownership of the titles – not to mention staff sharing and the rapid development of IT.”

Former Sunday Mercury editor Peter Harkness described Peter as a “formidable guy” who always a good hard edge to the Post reporting. “Never a bully and always good company,” he added, while PR consultant Bob Keys remembered Peter as the editor who launched the successful Post Business Awards. “A true journo who left a lasting impression,” he said.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.

End.