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Weekly editor who went on to lead tourist board dies aged 79

Roy Standring

A former weekly newspaper editor who went on to lead a tourist board has died at the age of 79.

Roy Standring, pictured left, was editor of the Falmouth Packet series of newspapers in the mid 1970s, moving to work there after time at the Daily Telegraph.

He went on to work as deputy editor of the West Briton before joining the Cornish Tourist Board, where he remained until his retirement.

The Packet reports that Roy died earlier this month following a period of ill health and his funeral was held on 14 September.

Roy began his career at the Weston Mercury as a trainee journalist after leaving school. He then spent two years doing National Service in Oswestry, Shropshire, where he met his future wife Pamela, who he married in 1960.

After National Service, he began working for the Daily Telegraph in Manchester and later worked for its sports desk, volunteering to report on lesser known sports, such as water skiing and archery.

Roy’s son Neil told the Packet: “Here, Dad’s talent for writing is highlighted. He was told, ‘It’s such a relief to have a chap who knows what he’s talking about at last.’ Dad didn’t have a clue about either sport!

“But it was his passion for cricket and rugby union for which Dad loved to report on and for which he was known for the most.”

Neil added that his dad loved to be the centre of attention and had countless appearances as a compere, host and MC at events with his “big booming voice” and often appeared as a pantomime dame at productions in Cornwall.

In 1969, Roy moved his family to London where he stayed with the Telegraph but in 1973 they moved to Cornwall where he became editor of the Falmouth Packet.

After a few years, he joined the West Briton and in 1985 moved on to the Cornish Tourist Board, where he headed up the team until his retirement.

He leaves wife Pamela, their four children and 11 grandchildren.

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  • September 25, 2015 at 10:28 am
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    Worked with Roy for a short time, before leaving for Australia, and found him to be a great bloke and a fine editorial leader. RIP Roy.

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