Journalists from all over the Midlands were among some 200 mourners at the funeral of reporter Richard Wood yesterday.

Richard, 49, who was known as “Dickie” to his many friends and colleagues, died when he was struck by a train on the main Derby to Birmingham rail line 11 days ago.

Former colleagues – now with the Leicester Mercury, The Yorkshire Post, The Sentinel in Stoke and the Derby Evening Telegraph – joined staff from the Burton Mail, where Richard had worked for more than 30 years, to say goodbye.

There was standing room only at Bretby Crematorium, just outside Burton, for the non-religious service which was conducted by Geraldine Jones of the Humanist Society.

The hearse had earlier been driven past the Mail offices on High Street, Burton, so that those who were unable to attend the funeral could pay their last respects.

The mourners included Dickie’s sister, Pat, her husband and children.

Also present was former European, Commonwealth and British Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Bodell, who comes from the Burton area.

Representatives from the National Union of Journalists – of which Dickie was a staunch member – attended, along with East Staffordshire councillors and friends from a number of solicitors’ practices in the town who knew Dickie from his years of court reporting.

During the service, some of Dickie’s favourite music was played including Caravan of Love by The Housemartins, The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel and Everybody’s Talking by The Beautiful South.

Staff at the Mail had pooled their memories of Dickie and they were all written into a touching eulogy by news editor Andy Parker.

In it he recalled how Dickie would remind them: “We’ve got the best job in town,” time without number.

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned for a full hearing later in the year.

To read Andy Parker’s tribute in full click here

Back to last week’s story on Richard Wood

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