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Mercury bids farewell to newspaper stalwart

The funeral of a regional newspaperman with “printers’ ink in his blood” took place yesterday.

Barry Wootten, 64, was the Leicester Mercury’s former assistant managing director and worked at the paper for more than 30 years.

Former colleagues have praised his dedication and passion and “enormous contribution” to the paper.

Nick Carter, who stepped down as editor earlier this year, said: “He had a real enthusiasm for the Mercury and was always ready to encourage younger members of staff.”

Another former editor Alex Leys, now Northcliffe Media’s deputy managing director, said: “Barry was quite simply synonymous with the Leicester Mercury for three decades and made a tremendous contribution to the business.”

And Tony Hill, who was managing director at the Mercury between 1996 and 2006, added: “Barry was a great newspaper man, with printers’ ink in his blood.”

Mr Wootten joined the company, then known as F Hewitt and Son, in August 1974, rising through the ranks to become assistant managing director in 1993. Before his retirement in 2006, he oversaw the multi-million-pound investment in the redevelopment of the Leicester Mercury building.

His funeral took place at Gilroes Crematorium yesterday.

Comments

Jeremy Clifford (12/06/2009 10:05:54)
Barry had so much experience of the Leicester Mercury, he was always there to offer advice and guidance.
A sad loss.

tim cowen (12/06/2009 14:58:59)
He was a thoroughly nice bloke in an industry in which niceness is too often in short supply.