OBITUARIES

Death of former Press Club chairman and Birmingham Evening Mail business editor  

A former Birmingham Press Club chairman and Birmingham Evening Mail business editor, whose stories ranged from the Aberfan tragedy to interviewing a former Beatle, has died aged 84.

Calvin Pugsley (pictured) joined the Birmingham Evening Mail as industrial correspondent in 1965, before becoming the paper’s business editor. He was elected chairman  of Birmingham Press Club in 1968. 

It was during his time at the paper that Merthyr-born Calvin was asked to report on the tragedy that engulfed Aberfan in 1966. 

He was one of the first journalists to arrive, reaching the Welsh village by riding on the back of one of the rescue lorries. He reported from the harrowing scene, focusing first on the human tragedy before covering the subsequent inquiry. 

Calvin’s daughter, Carolyn, said that her father never got over the “terrible sight” that greeted his eyes. “Dad could never talk about Aberfan without getting visibly choked up. He knew two of the men killed personally, and the stories of human tragedy shook him right until the end,” she said.

It was also during his time at the Birmingham Evening Mail that Calvin interviewed John Lennon, during his celebrated bed-in for peace at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam in 1969. The interview focused on the takeover bid by Associated Television for Northern Songs, the company which owned the copyright to songs by Lennon and McCartney. John Lennon opened the conversation with Calvin saying, in his distinctive Liverpool twang, “Hello Birmingham!”. 

As chair of Birmingham Press Club, Calvin recalled the time when Princess Alexandra arrived to present the awards in the Midlands Press Photographer of the Year competition, which the Press Club sponsored. Calvin was keen for everything to go without a hitch, and so arranged for an expensive fountain pen to be used by Her Royal Highness to sign the club’s visitors’ book. However, when the time arrived, the pen was nowhere to be seen. Much to Calvin’s horror, Princess Alexandra was instead thrust a tuppeny Bic Biro!

Throughout his working career, Calvin was an active trade unionist. He assumed a key role when members of the National Union of Journalists employed by the Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd stopped work in 1975 in a pay dispute that lasted nine weeks – one of the most protracted strikes in the post-war history of British provincial journalism. 

Calvin used his contacts with the trade unions in Birmingham to win industrial and financial support. He also acted as a quartermaster, sourcing and distributing food parcels to colleagues on strike.  

Through his influence, the Birmingham Press Club acted as a meeting place for the striking journalists and provided a focal point for social contact and up-to-date information. That the strike remained solid until the end was a great source of personal satisfaction for Calvin. 

Calvin left journalism to pursue a career in public relations in 1976, when he returned to Wales to be appointed as the first head of information at the then newly established Welsh Development Agency. He later became head of communications at the Countryside Commission in Cheltenham in 1985, before taking early retirement to run his own public relations consultancy in 1993. 

He retired to Orleton, a village near Ludlow, before finally settling in Haverfordwest. He died in Pembrokeshire and is survived by his partner, Mabyn Charlton, 83; his former wife Angela (nee Thompson), 83; his two children, Julian Pugsley, 51, a song writer and musician, and Carolyn Pugsley, 48, director of Freshwater, a leading communications agency in Cardiff and London; daughter-in-law Sarah, 51, and two grandchildren Daisy, 15, and Noah, 10. 

Calvin’s memorial service will take place on Monday 27 February at 11.30am at St Martin of Tours Church in Haverfordwest. It is family flowers only, but donations can be made in his memory to EthiopiaAID ethiopiaid.org.uk/donate-now/ 

  Death of journalist who became top auto analyst

Rob Golding, a former Birmingham Post business editor who went on to become a leading automotive analyst with a London-based investment bank has died at the age of 72. 

During a successful business career, Rob worked on Ford’s 1989 acquisition of Jaguar – hailed as one of the financial deals of the decade.

For many years Rob (pictured) was a member of The Guild of Motoring Journalists and fellow member Mark Bursa, paying tribute on the Guild’s website, said: “Rob had a remarkable career as both a writer and automotive analyst, and excelled at both disciplines. He possessed both a deep knowledge of the automotive industry and the rare gift of turning workaday business or technical topics into sharp, entertaining copy.

“His long career included spells as business editor of the Birmingham Post, and editor of The Engineer, before becoming editor of Car magazine in the early 1980s. However, this was not to last, as the City had begun to notice that Rob’s knowledge and analytical skills transcended those of a mere writer.

“Rob became a full-time automotive analyst in 1984, rising to become director of automotive industry research and equity analysis for SG Warburg. While there, he worked on Ford’s 1989 acquisition of Jaguar, one of the deals of the decade, and was voted the UK’s top auto analyst on a number of occasions.

“He pulled no punches either – as a young reporter I remember attending an automotive dinner in the City shortly after the ‘Black Monday’ stock market crash of October 1987, where Rob became embroiled in an animated public argument with dealer group boss Sir Tom Cowie, over whether it was City analysts such as Rob who had caused the crash – a position he defended forcefully and eloquently.

“Rob returned to journalism in the mid-1990s as a freelance writer, deploying his incisive knowledge for outlets such as Automotive Management and Just-Auto. It was a joy to watch him in action, extracting detailed information from board-level directors, thanks to his ability to ask the hardcore financial questions they were not expecting on a press trip.

“He also wrote a series of books on the history of Mini, most recently in 2007, covering the 50-year history of the brand with great clarity and readability.

“Rob was also great company, both on press trips and socially, where he’d like nothing more than putting the world to rights over a beer and a curry, or better still, a day at the Oval, watching the cricket.

“Sadly, Rob began to be afflicted by early-onset Alzheimer’s, bringing about an early retirement in 2015. it was painful to see such a bright and fearless intellect so cruelly dimmed in such a way.

“The Guild sends condolences to Rob’s wife Shirley, his three daughters, family and friends.” Added Mark.

Rob’s daughter, Melanie said: “Alzheimer’s really robbed us all of so much dad and grandad time for which I will always begrudge. He really was a legend!”

A memorial is to be held at Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 7SE at 2 pm on 3 December.

If anyone would like to donate to the Alzheimer’s Society a memorial page has been set up by Rob’s daughter, Melanie – https://robgolding.muchloved.com

  Ex-sports editor dies aged 58

A regional sports editor who became a “tireless champion” for his fellow stroke survivors has died aged 58.

Tributes have been paid to Martin Warrilow, who spent 17 years on the sports desk of the Birmingham Post.

Martin, pictured, also worked for the Tamworth Herald and also served as sports editor at the Sutton Coldfield Observer during his career.

He was also a “highly effective” NUJ rep for his colleagues until redundancy in 2009 following editorial restructuring, at which time he was an assistant content editor for sport at the Post.

Martin subsequently became editor of the British Naturism magazine, an 80-page quarterly publication serving the organisation’s 11,000 members.

He also ran his own company, Martin Warrillow Publishing Services, from 2010 until suffering a “debilitating” stroke in 2013.

Paying tribute, former colleague Tony Collins wrote: “Despite the stroke forcing him to re-learn how to walk and write, Martin became a tireless champion for other stroke survivors. After acknowledging that his own situation was a result of stress, he devoted his time and energy to warning others about the risk factors behind strokes.

“This was through a series of talks, as well as his own blog, called The Warrior, which he started in 2014, and a monthly podcast.

“Martin also helped with research into the causes of strokes and fundraising for stroke survivor charities.”

Martin began his career on the Herald in 1987 after graduating from Loughborough University with BA Hons in European Political Studies and Modern European Studies.

It was in Tamworth where he was introduced to his devoted wife Carmel.

He joined the Observer in 1990, the same year he and Carmel married, before moving to Birmingham two years later.

Sam Holliday, who was Martin’s sports editor at the Herald and also served as best man at his wedding, said: “When I first met Martin, he was a quiet individual, but it was amazing how coming to Tamworth transformed him. Not only did he find lots of great friends, but he also found Carmel.

“He was a very good journalist who wrote well and knew so much about so many different sports. But he also touched so many people in his stroke talks and probably helped to save people’s lives without realising it.

“I think he would be amazed and pleased with how much love and affection came his way.”

Tamworth Football Club held a minute’s applause at their match against Hitchin Town on Saturday 22 October in honour of Martin, who had supported the club since he first joined the Herald.

A funeral service will be held on Friday 18 November at midday at St John’s Church, St Johns Street, Tamworth.

  Sudden death of “much-loved” journalist

A Birmingham-based Brett Gibbons, a regional content editor at Reach plc, who was an “early pioneer for live reporting” online, has died unexpectedly aged 64,

Brett (pictured)  worked for the Birmingham Mail and its Birmingham Live sister website during his career where he “found a particular niche running live blogs as digital journalism came to the fore”.

Birmingham Mail editor Graeme Brown described him as someone who was “trusted and much admired.” He said: “Brett worked for me in three different roles, and was always someone I could rely on. He was capable of being very fast and very accurate, and had a fantastic work ethic.

“But that is not why we’ll miss him. He was also a much-loved member of our newsroom. Brett had a lot of interests he shared with others – travel, dogs and football among them.”

Ed Walker, Reach’s interim audience and content director for audience growth, added: “Brett was always generous with his time and his knowledge, and was a big part of helping to develop our Network team that serves our regional titles up and down the country.”

Brett was known for his love of travel and lived in Majorca for 10 years with his partner Karen, where he worked as a journalist for the Majorca Daily Bulletin before changing career for a time to become a holiday rep. He returned to the United Kingdom and worked on national titles including the Daily Star, before returning to the West Midlands.

The funeral took place at Streetly Crematorium, near Walsall, on Thursday, October 27.

  “King of Quality” dies aged 79

A former newspaper chief, who has died aged 79, has been remembered as an “editor extraordinaire” who ran regional daily newspapers for more than two decades.

Sean Dooley (pictured), who retired from newspapers in 2005, was also  active in the world of journalism training and until recently served as the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ independent ombudsman, overseeing the quality and fairness of its qualifications.

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher added: “A long-serving and highly-respected editor, Sean inspired so many young regional newspaper reporters and supported them in their careers. He went on to do a brilliant job overseeing the transparency and fairness of NCTJ qualifications.

Sean was forensic and fair – always on top of the detail which kept us on our toes.

“He was a legend in our industry and very special to the NCTJ and to me personally. My last memory of Sean is him smiling at me across the room at the House of Lords where we were celebrating the NCTJ’s 70th anniversary. I described him as ‘our steadfast king of quality and standards.’”

Alan Geere, who edited the Essex Chronicle editor and was Northcliffe South East editorial director, described him as his “good friend and editor extraordinaire,” while ex-Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill commented:  “Not another one. So soon after Lowie. They were great buddies. Sean was a fine editor and always good company.”

Sean began his journalism career at the Mercury Press Agency on Merseyside and worked for weekly and daily papers in Liverpool and Manchester before editing a current affairs magazine.

He then served as news editor of the Lincolnshire Echo and deputy editor of the South Wales Evening Post, before taking up the editorship of the Gloucestershire Echo in 1983. Sean moved to Stoke-on-Trent four years later and would go on to edit The Sentinel for 18 years until his retirement in 2005.

His son Piers said: “He fought cancer pretty well but he got an infection. He was very close to Mike Lowe who of course sadly died the week before.. He loved his job. We knew the importance of what he did and the enjoyment he got from the cut and thrust of being a newspaper editor when he was doing it.”

Sean, who is survived by his wife Judith and children Piers, Rebecca and Adam, had been suffering from cancer for a number of years. He died on 24 July. There will be a private funeral and his family have asked for donations in his memory to be made to the charity of donors’ choices.

  Tributes paid to “inspiring” photographer

Tributes have been paid to a former leading Press photographer in the Midlands who has died aged 94.

Bernard Hess – affectionately known as Bunny – passed away at Job’s Close Residential Home in Knowle, Solihull, after a short illness on 10 June.

In his younger days, Bunny (pictured) was one of the country’s top photojournalists. He worked for the Birmingham Evening Mail for most of his career and through his camera lens, he eye-witnessed some of the biggest news stories in the Midlands from the late 1940s until he retired in the 1990s.

He also photographed movie stars, royalty, and the ordinary people who make Birmingham such a great city.

A treasure-strove of his favourite news photographs – found in the attic of his former home in Knowle – have been compiled into a book, Through the Lens: A Life in News, which is raising funds for The Journalists Charity, of which Bunny was a great supporter.

Whether funny, heart-breaking or tragic, the 36 remarkable pictures capture the very best of photojournalism. In the words of Marc Reeves, Midlands Editor-in-Chief of Reach plc, publishers of the Birmingham Mail: “The years disappear and you feel drawn to the company of living, breathing, real people. That’s what Bunny’s photos do, and did, brilliantly.”

Tony Dickens, a former Birmingham Evening Mail deputy editor, said; “Bunny was a legendary photographer and undoubtedly one of the best in the Midlands. He was always a pleasure to work with, serious on the job, yet hilarious out of the newsroom.”

Former newspaper editor Nick Hudson, who was a district office reporter for the Birmingham Evening Mail, remembered Bunny for his “inspiring photographic work,” while ex-colleague Colin Palmer said: “He was a great photographer, a gentleman – and a really nice bloke.”

Bunny is survived by his widow, Betty, and two sons, John , a former BBC Political Editor for the East Midlands, and Alan, a retired police officer.

The funeral will be held at Knowle C of E Church on Wednesday 27 July at 1pm. The service will be followed by a reception at Greswolde Hotel , Warwick Road, Knowle.

The family request no flowers but ask that donations to two of his favourite causes - The Journalists Charity & the Birmingham Mail’s charity, which extends a helping hand to those struggling through tough times – should be made via Co-operative Funeral Care, 677 Warwick Road, Solihull.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/throughthelens

  Death of award-winning editor

A multiple award-winning regional press editor, who spent two decades with Northcliffe, has died aged 68 after a short illness. Mike Lowe (pictured), who edited Gloucester daily The Citizen, the Derby Telegraph and the Bristol Post during his career, also ran Cotswold Life magazine between 2006 and 2020.

Mike initially joined Northcliffe in 1982 as a sports writer in Lincoln before moving to the Hull Daily Mail and The Sentinel in Stoke-on-Trent. He then edited The Citizen, the Telegraph and the Post, winning several industry awards in the process.

Paying tribute, Candia McCormack, his successor at the Cheltenham-based Cotswold Life, said: “What a man! We all have so much to be grateful to him for… the laughter, the tears and everything in between. He will be so missed.”

Hereford Times editor John Wilson said: “I worked with Mike when he was chief sub of the Derby Evening Telegraph and I was a young reporter, and later when I was chief sub of the Bristol Evening Post and he the editor. His wit was as sharp as his sub’s pencil. One of the foremost editors of his generation. So very sad.”

Nub News editorial director Mike Sassi, who worked with him in Derby, called him  a “great, great editor”. He said: “His leadership was exceptional. His sense of humour was even better.

“It was an absolute privilege to have worked with him.”

Richard Bowyer, former editor of Stoke-on-Trent daily The Sentinel, added: “He taught me so much and I have a great deal to thank him for in helping my career.

“A brilliant editor and great, great, company. So many brilliant memories.”

Former Leicester Mercury editor Nick Carter described Mike’s death as “a dreadful shock”.

He wrote: “Had the privilege of being in the same band of Northcliffe editors in what turned out to be the last, best years of our industry. Mike was a legend – and a damn-good newspaperman.”

  Death of Pioneer Picture Editor

A former Midlands-based photographer who helped pioneer the introduction of colour pictures in UK newspapers has died at his home aged 80.

Ken Wood was picture editor of the Express & Star when it implemented one of Britain’s first electronic colour picture desks in the 1980s. Such was his expertise that it led to him being sought after to train others in the industry on how to use the revolutionary new technology.

Earlier in his career, Ken (pictured) had photographically charted the rise to stardom of a group of local lads who went on to become one of the biggest bands of the 1970s – Slade.

A miner’s son from Horden, near Hartlepool, Ken began his career as an apprentice photographer on the Hartlepool Mail. After a spell on The Journal, Newcastle, he headed south. In 1964, a good friend, Gerry Anderson, had just started working on the Express & Star and Ken successfully applied for the job of chief photographer on the Wolverhampton Chronicle, part of the E & S group – and he ended up remaining in Wolverhampton for almost 40 years.

In memoirs written for his grandchildren, Ken recalled: “"In October 1964 I left Hartlepool for the Midlands riding on cloud nine with a fantastic salary of £1,000 per year. I had made it big time. It would turn out to be the best move I ever made but also my last one. Although many years later I did have the opportunity to get to London, I never realised my ambition to join a 'national'."

His 37-year career at the Express & Star group, both as a photographer and picture editor, gave him a grandstand seat at key events during a tumultuous era, and among the photos of which he was particularly proud was one of the wedding of Charles and Diana, with Ken leaning out of an office window to get the shot just as confetti rained down from a window above.

His assignments also included covering the local music scene and he spent many an evening sharing a pint with a local group then known as the ‘N Betweens.

He wrote: "In 1966 I met a group of lads who came together to form a group called The ‘N Betweens. They were a young rock group and played at a lot of the social events I covered as a photographer. They played everywhere and anywhere and built up an enthusiastic live following in the Wolverhampton area

"I spent many an evening sharing a pint with them and taking their pictures to give them as much publicity as possible.”

Writing about the ‘N Betweens he said: “I never thought they would make it to the top but how wrong can you be. In 1970 they changed their name and launched themselves as Slade. They became far and away from the most successful chart band of the 70s chalking up no fewer than six number-one hits between 1971 and 1976.

“I’ll never forget the day their first record reached the top. They all piled into the front office of the Express & Star asking for me and off we went to take celebration pictures.”

Also, among his proudest moments was covering the Pope's visit to Ireland in 1979.

His son Glenn said: "About 30 people from the press were invited to an audience with the Pope and he was given that chance so he went. The Catholics kissed the Pope's hand while the non-Catholics, like my father, took the Pope's hand. The Pope asked who he worked for and he said he worked for the Express & Star. The Pope thought he was very fortunate because he worked for two papers!"

Ken was also treasurer for the Wolverhampton Press Charity Ball, recalling in his memoirs: "I would wander around during the ball with over £2,000 in my pocket to pay cash to the various cabaret artistes. Stars like Paul Daniels, Roy Castle, Jim Davidson, Tom O’Connor, and Janet Brown, to name a few, came looking for me for their money."

In one incident comedian Bernie Clifton, who had an act in which he wore a giant ostrich costume, mysteriously failed to appear on stage when introduced by the compere. "I legged it round the front of the stage and burst into his dressing room wondering what was wrong. The idiot was perched on his ostrich costume and couldn’t reach the door handle to get out."

Highly popular in its day and raising thousands of pounds for charities, Ken said the press ball was eventually killed off when bands and cabaret artists started charging more, meaning more was being paid in fees than went to charity.

Ken, who was from Wellington in Telford, retired aged 60 in 2001.

Away from journalism, he was president of Telford Lions in 1991-2 and captain of Great Hay Golf Club (now Telford Golf Club) in the late 1980s. In 2010, his love of golf made the headlines in the Shropshire Star, a sister-publication of the Express & Star – and put a dent in his wallet!  

Playing at the Shropshire Golf Centre in Muxton, Telford, Ken hit a hole-in-one at the 7th – and with tradition dictating that he had to buy drinks for everyone in the clubhouse it meant that his achievement cost him £50. And it was the first time in more than 40 years of playing that he had failed to take out insurance covering the drinks bill in the event of a hole-in-one!

He is survived by his widow Margaret, children Glenn and Joanne, and two granddaughters, Jenny and Katie. The funeral service was held at Telford Crematorium on 26 May 2022.

Photos: Stars in the making – from ‘N Betweens to Slade

Another of Ken’s striking images – taken in 1984 at the old grammar Wolverhampton

  Death of well-known sports presenter

Tributes have flooded in following the death of sports journalist Bob Hall – a familiar face on TV screens since the 1980s.

Birmingham Press Club president Bob Warman remembered his former colleague as a “very fine broadcaster, while Press Club chairman Llewela Bailey said: “He was unflappable and a delight to work with. I never once, in 20 years of working with him, saw him panic – in a job that at times demands the nerves of a fighter pilot.

“Bob was a great raconteur and because he was a good mimic his stories were memorable. He was a modest man and never put himself centre stage, despite having an impressive CV in print, radio, and TV. A one-off – and good friend to his adopted Midlands,” added Llewela.

Bob (pictured), who was in his mid-seventies, was more recently known as a contributor to Jeff Stelling’s Sky Sports Show, Soccer Saturday.  Paying tribute, Jeff said: “Bob was eloquent and succinct without any waffle. That is what made him perfect for Soccer Saturday and why he was such an important part of the show for so many years. He will be very much missed by all the team and the viewers.”

In 1981, Bob was recruited by Gary Newbon to be part of ITV Central’s sports team after covering rugby league for the Yorkshire and Granada stations. After becoming a casualty of a 2004 shake-up, Bob returned to freelance reporting and was a regular contributor to Sky Sports’ popular Soccer Saturday programme, hosted by Jeff Stelling.

Gary Newbon said: “It’s a huge shock, we’re all stunned. As a presenter, Bob was a really solid, safe pair of hands, very professional.  He never let you down. He was a good operator and a good professional.”

Paying tribute, Bob Warman said: “He was one of the best. I remember Bob with great fondness. He was truly a very, very fine broadcaster. He was a tremendous ad-libber – he could fill space and time and get you out of any tricky situation. His memory was fantastic.

“He was terrific. His detail, memory, and recall used to astonish me. He was a wonderful man to have on your side. You could always rely on Bob.”

In 2015, Bob Hall was named among a list of recruits for a bold, Birmingham broadcasting venture - the city’s first TV station, Big Centre TV, co-owned by former ATV presenter Mike Prince. However, it ceased broadcasting a year later and re-emerged as the satellite show “Made In Birmingham”.

Bob was also the man in the chair during sell-out Q&A shows with Wolves hero Steve Bull. On Twitter, Black Country Radio posted its own tribute: “We’re sad to hear the news that veteran ITV Central presenter, Bob Hall has passed away. Bob presented our ‘Ask The Leader’ events for Dudley Metropolitan Council before the Covid pandemic and was a brilliant broadcaster and lovely man. He’ll be missed.”

Actor and director David Alacey, who also worked with Bob, described him as a superb broadcaster, having been impressed by his professionalism and immaculate style.

Sky Sports director of football Gary Hughes said: "I grew up watching Bob on Central Television - he was a hugely respected broadcaster with one of the great voices in the industry. He would happily regale anecdotes about his famous friends such as Ron Atkinson and Alex Ferguson.  His experience wasn’t limited to sport, though, as he had served as a popular presenter of the classic BBC Series Pebble Mill and so knew many legends from the world of showbiz.”

He also briefly worked for the Express & Star newspaper on its Features Desk.

The BBC's Nick Owen said it was "shocking news" and "terribly sad", while presenter Joanne Malin recalled "lots of fun together" as colleagues at ITV Central.

Midlands football clubs have also paid tribute to Bob, who they described as a "respected figure in the press bench.” Coventry City FC said he had "covered the Sky Blues for many years, including the 1987 FA Cup Final" and passed on condolences to his family, while Burton Albion FC said he was "often at the Pirelli Stadium in recent years covering Brewers games and was a warm friendly, respected figure in the press bench".

Death of Journalism’s “Country Gentleman”

Gerry Barnett, a well-known Worcestershire journalist, whose career spanned almost 70 years, has died at the age of 89. His funeral will take place at Ashton-under-Hill Chapel at 12.30 pm on 30 May.

As a member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, Gerry was a fierce champion of the farming community, the countryside and local produce – on occasions delivering Vale of Evesham asparagus to Buckingham Palace and top London food venues as part of the British Asparagus Festival.

Gerry (pictured) joined the Evesham Journal and Four Shires Advertiser in 1949 and after service in the RAF – he said he never saw a real plane and wasn’t posted any further than Herefordshire – he returned to the Journal and stayed there until 1958.  He served as an agricultural correspondent for the Journal series in Evesham and the Cotswolds, becoming a familiar face at all major farming and agricultural events in the Midlands.

After leaving the Journal, Gerry spent 34 years with the Gloucestershire Echo as its reporter for Evesham and the Cotswolds.

In 1993 – after a year which saw him as chairman of Wychavon District Council – Gerry rejoined the Journal staff and remained there until eventual retirement.

Recalling the time he crossed swords with the late Sir Gerald Nabarro, the flamboyant MP for South Worcestershire, Gerry said: “Nab was a great one for publicity. He was always on the phone telling you what he had done or what he was about to do.

“He would go to any lengths as well. I remember he was particularly keen we use a piece about something he was doing with local growers, but they were having difficulty organising a time to get together. Eventually, I ended up at the Lygon Arms in Broadway at midnight on a Saturday, which was the only time they could meet.

“He had a really annoying habit though. He liked using long words and sometimes during his speeches he would spell them out ‘for the benefit of the members of the Press’. He must have thought it was clever, but I didn’t like it. It made you look silly. It got to such a stage I told him that if he did it again, I would walk out.

“Not long after he was addressing a meeting at the Three Tuns Hotel in Pershore when he started spelling a word out. I had pre-warned my two Press colleagues who were there and all three of us got up and left. Mind you, it was a long way to the door. To his credit, Nab apologised afterwards.”

In 2003, Gerry’s long association with the CLA Game Fair was recognised during a Press reception at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, when he was presented with a bottle of English champagne by Ollie Wilson, CLA Game Fair director of communication.

Mr Wilson noted that Gerry, a long-standing member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, had by then already achieved a remarkable record of 64 years in journalism. Starting with the Evesham Journal, Gerry had always been closely connected with farming and the countryside.  

“Gerry was at the very first CLA Game Fair in 1958 and has been to the great majority of them ever since,” Mr. Wilson said. “He is a true English country gentleman and a credit to journalism.”

A widower who lived at Ashton-under-Hill, near Evesham, Gerry was the first chairman of Evesham & Pershore Housing Association, chairman of Wychavon Festival of Brass, and a middle school governor for 25 years.

A countryman to his very core, Gerry lived in the same village as farmer and country author Fred Archer, a celebrated chronicler of life in rural England, and, in common with many traditional people in the area tried his hand at producing his own food, including rearing a pig. For 50 years he ran a private pheasant, partridge, and duck shoot. He also found time to indulge in more artistic pursuits, such as singing in the Pershore Town Choir.

Gerry was a well-known local stringer for many bigger news organisations further afield and the name of Barnett of Evesham was regularly mentioned in newsrooms at the Birmingham Post & Mail, BBC Midlands Today and ATV Today as well as by members of the Midlands pack of national daily reporters.

When an exhibition was held in Evesham in 2010 to celebrate 150 years of news reporting by the Journal, a special section was devoted to Gerry who, by then, had worked as a journalist in the area for more than 60 years.

Death of “talented” ex-editor

A Midlands journalist, who edited four regional daily newspapers during a 40-year career, died in hospital on Sunday, 1 May, aged 64, after a short illness.

Kevin Booth who was in charge of the Leicester Mercury when it was named Regional Newspaper of the Year in 2015, also edited the Burton Mail, the Peterborough Telegraph, and York-based The Press, as well as working on The Sentinel in Stoke-on-Trent, the Derby Telegraph, the Bristol Evening Post and the Birmingham Evening Mail.

His wife, Trish, said he had been suffering from a lung condition, known as sarcoidosis.

After leaving The Leicester Mercury in 2016 for “personal reasons” Kevin set up his own business, Booth Media. More recently, he worked as head of communications for wealth management company Mattioli Woods, before retiring.

Mike Lowe, who worked with Kevin at The Sentinel and was later his editor at the Derby Telegraph, said: “This is devastating news. Boothy was a consummate newsman who never shirked any task, however difficult. He approached a demanding job with determination, talent, and great good humour.

“He was a delight to work with and I learned an awful lot from him. He was also terrific company and a great friend; a lifelong football fan (of Stoke City) and a passionate champion of the Potteries. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”

Former Sentinel and Nottingham Post editor Mike Sassi, said: “Kev was an excellent journalist and a fantastic colleague. His news sense and his professionalism were second to none.

“He also had a great sense of humour – which always made him popular, both inside and outside of the newsroom.”

Kevin, who lived in the Staffordshire village of Waterfall, began his career in 1974, working on weekly papers in North Staffordshire until 1980 when he joined The Sentinel as a reporter. After a spell at the Birmingham Evening Mail, he returned to Stoke as chief reporter in 1989 and was deputy sports editor when he left in 1992 to join the Derby Evening Telegraph as deputy news editor.

He followed Mike Lowe from Derby to the Bristol Evening Post in 1997 and was promoted to deputy editor before landing his first editorship at Peterborough in 2000.

Moving to The Press in 2003, he was the editor there for five years until losing his job in a 2008 restructuring operation. While at York, Kevin switched the newspaper to a tabloid format and, in 2007, picked up the Newspaper Society Award for national campaigning newspaper of the year after it brought about a change in the law on child abduction.

The following year he returned yet again to Stoke as deputy head of a West Midlands production hub, based at The Sentinel’s office, before taking up the editorship at Burton later in 2009.

 Emma Turton, who succeeded Kevin at Burton when he joined the Mercury in 2014, said: “He was a top editor, a great boss, a brilliant mentor, a fabulous newsman, a thoroughly good all-around bloke, and a really good friend.”

PHOTO:  Kevin pictured with his wife, Trish

Fall led to ex-editor’s death

A former Midlands daily newspaper editor died after suffering a fall at his home in in Cyprus, an inquest has heard.

John Holland (pictured). aged 84, who edited the Birmingham Post and  Sandwell Evening Mail, fractured his right hip after tripping on a carpet.

An inquest into the death was heard by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Barkley following a request from John’s family.  John edited the Sandwell  Evening Mail and went on to the Post in the mid-1980s.  He then served as managing director of Herts and Essex Newspapers from 1992 until 2000, when he retired to Cyprus with his wife, Maureen.

The inquest heard that John was still mobile and enjoyed activities such as swimming and gardening but in recent years had become unsteady on his feet.

John suffered the fall on 16 November last year and the hearing was told he may not have been able to put his arm out when he fell due to a previous shoulder fracture.

He was taken to a hospital in Cyprus where he had surgery but died three days later.

Mr. Barkley concluded that he did not know how the fall happened, ruling there was no direct link between the fall, fracture, surgery, and John’s death.

The coroner gave a cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to a fractured right hip and found John died from complications from a fall.

Death of ex-photo agency chief

A former press photographer, who was a major figure in the Birmingham media for nearly half a century during the end of the golden age of the newspaper industry, has died in the West Country at the age of 90.

Tom Stone was born in Lincoln into a large, happy family which moved to Birmingham and lived in a small terrace house in Aston. Both his parents were involved in catering which gave him his life-long interest of food and cooking.  He left school at 14 and had a couple of jobs, including working at the Charles Wade steelworks, before entering the RAF for his national service. 

He learned his photographic trade in the RAF where he was involved in processing aerial photographs. Shortly after leaving the forces, he secured a job as a trainee photographer for Cater’s news agency in Birmingham. 

Tom quickly became a talented and sought-after news photographer and over the years rose to become managing director of the agency.  His work was featured in the Picture Post and he met and photographed many events and people including Muhammed Ali, Julie Christie, and the pop group the Animals.

As the demand for freelance photographic work gradually changed, he developed a thriving PR business which, under the name of Caters Photographic, handled publicity work for many national and international businesses including Shell, BP, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tom’s home life was devoted to his family, especially his wife Barbara and sons Adam and Marcus.  The couple had managed to buy the small country cottage they had rented near Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire, when first married and they turned the garden into a country retreat, growing vegetables, keeping chickens and ducks.  Tom and Barbara were married for 57 years. 

After retirement, Tom and Barbara, who died four years ago, moved to be closer to family in Bristol, Tom and Barbara quickly made friends with new neighbours

Marcus said he always remembered his Dad’s advice to be a calm island in a stormy sea’ - and that Tom was always a calm island in a stormy sea and always there for others.

Tom also leaves grandchildren Seb, Sam, George, and Alex, and six great-grandchildren.

Following a funeral service in Somerset, arrangements were made to bury his ashes in the family plot in Tanworth-in-Arden churchyard.

Pic caption: Tom Stone as a young photographer.

Farewell Bill – a Midlands legend

The funeral of Bill Daniels, a legendary Birmingham-based journalist who worked for the Daily Mirror for almost four decades, who has died aged 82, took place at Cannock Crematorium on Saturday, February 12.

Paying tribute, Daily Mirror editor Alison Philips said: “Bill was a very much-loved and respected member of the Daily Mirror ‘family.’ He worked for us for almost 40 years and was a great reporter and a lovely man.”

Rod Chaytor, who worked alongside Bill in the Birmingham Office of the Mirror, said:
“William ‘Bill’ ‘Danny’ Daniels hailed from modest circumstances in Saltley, Birmingham, but was a gentleman as to the manner born and to his fingertips.

“Over nearly 40 years in the Daily Mirror’s Birmingham office - or Bureau as it was known back in his day - he covered the Midlands for the Mirror with passion, great expertise, the highest of in-built journalistic principles, and aplomb.

“Dan moved to the Mirror from the Birmingham Despatch in 1963, joining what was then a three-man operation led by Ray Hill. Paul Connew was among those who learned his craft from Dan.

“I can vividly recall Paul saying at his farewell do - as he left to take charge of the Mirror’s LA Bureau - that in a decade serving with Dan in the Mirror office in Birmingham he could honestly not remember a cross word between them.

“Mine was the same experience, and that of staff photographer Dick Williams, when, for the next 22 years, I sat across the office from Dan - the explanation being his imperturbable and unflappable urbanity, diplomacy, good humour, and good manners.

“His retirement, when it came in 2001, was not what his friends would have wished. His beloved wife, Kay, had been stricken by a progressive illness a couple of years before, and - to the admiration of all - he devoted their remaining years together to her loving care. It was typical of the man whose compassion, decency, and humanity marked not only his top-class work as a journalist but also every aspect of his life.” Added Rod.

During his career, he reported on the Birmingham pub bombings, where he was among the first journalists to reach the scene and had front-page stories on seven consecutive days.

He also chaperoned the woman at the centre of the Profumo scandal – Mandy Rice=Davies – when the Mirror did a series on her. Among other stories covered by Bill included the Black Panther trial, the Tracie Andrews murder, the Handsworth riots and he was on the very last voyage of the Ark Royal.

Bill, a former Birmingham Press Club member who lived in Walsall, leaves two sons, Iain and Stuart, and five grandchildren. Iain said: For Dad, journalism and working for the Daily Mirror was not simply a job, it was who he was He was of the ‘old school’ – fair, fearless, and utterly committed to chasing down the story.”

Photo:  Bill Daniels – fondly remembered

Tragic death of journalist

A talented West Midlands journalist has died – just days short of his 38th birthday - after being struck by two cars while walking along a street in Dudley. James Driver-Fisher (pictured) had worked for the Midland News Association since 2007, most recently being a content manager for Wolverhampton daily the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, as well as their weekly sister titles.

Police told the Express & Star that father-of-one James had been walking down Saltwells Road in Netherton, Dudley, before he was hit by two separate vehicles at about 12.40am on Sunday (October 31).

The drivers of both cars stayed at the scene to help police with their inquiries and no arrests have been made.

MNA editor-in-chief Martin Wright said: “We are all devastated to hear of James’s sudden death.

“James will be sorely missed for his humour and his unflappable demeanor in the newsroom. He was a conscientious and dedicated member of our team, not to mention a very talented journalist. Above all, he was a thoughtful and caring human being, which made him so popular with all of his colleagues.  Our thoughts are with James’s family at this exceptionally difficult time.”

James began his career as a reporter on the Bridgnorth Journal before becoming a sub-editor with the MNA and later moving to his most recent role. He was a regular contributor to the entertainment pages and also to the sports pages due to his love of motorcycling. James wrote a book on motorsport, as well as two about his favourite football team Aston Villa.

He had previously run marathons to raise money for Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice, which cared for his late father David prior to his death when James was only 23.

His wife Kelly told the Express & Star  “He truly was the kindest most loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and friend. The great are taken young and he was the best. I will love him for the rest of my days.”

James is also survived by his seven-year-old daughter Annabelle, mother Nadine, sister Hannah and brother Thomas.

Police inquiries are continuing.