Former sports writer Eddie Giles, who died two days after Christmas
A former regional sports writer who went on to pen numerous books about local football teams has died.
Eddie Giles, left, worked at the Bristol Evening Post as deputy sports editor from 1956, going on to become the paper’s chief sports sub-editor before leaving in 1970 to join the Daily Telegraph.
For the last eight years of his career, until he retired in 1993, he was the broadsheet’s Northern sports editor.
After retiring, Eddie decided to continue writing and turned to his experience covering sport in Bristol for inspiration,
The grandfather-of-four produced a memoir called Bristol Rovers: The Bert Tann Era, published in 2007, which told the story of the manager who guided Rovers through one of their most successful periods from 1950 to 1968.
He also wrote several books on Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Notts County before his final work was released last year entitled Bristol City: From Atyeo to Dicks, which includes the story of City’s record goalscorer and the financial crisis which saw the club all but collapse.
NUJ member Eddie, who was in his mid-80s, died at his home in Essex on December 27. He leaves a wife, Joan, two children and four grandchildren.
His funeral will be held at St Giles and All Saints, Orsett, Essex, at 11.15am on January 15.
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Eddie was one of the old school of journalists, an oustanding newspaperman; a stickler for accuracy of fact and grammar, and someone who always set a great example in all he did, be it in writing a story, running a sports desk, or showing enthusiasm for his work and for sport. He was one of the friendliest and kindest of men –always ready with a helpful word for younger journalists. Many younger colleagues had good reason to be grateful to Eddie, and he will be remembered with great affection.
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I had the privilege of working with Eddie on the Telegraph’s Northern Sportsdesk for a couple of years. Yes, he was ‘old school’ in the best sense of the phrase and an all-round top bloke…
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I worked with Eddie during the 1980s when he was the Daily Telegraph’s northern sports editor. A true gent and a stickler for style and accuracy.
A privilege to have known him if only for a few years.
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Eddie helped me immensely during my first 12 years on the Evening Post sportsdesk as deputy to the benevolent sports editor and later editor Bob Cooper. He insisted on 100 per cent accuracy, perfect grammar – assets that later brought their rewards on the Telegraph. He never stopped talking about his beloved Derby County and, as David Foot reminded me, was an in-demand medium-fast bowler with both David’s and the Evening Post cricket teams. I had more recent contact with Eddie in assisting with info and pictures for his labour-of-love book on Bristol City. A lovely man. ,
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