A sports editor at a regional daily has subbed his last match report after 48 years at the title.
Paul Ricketts, left, left the Worcester News on Friday after spending his whole career working at the newspaper and its sister titles.
He started out as a junior reporter at the age of 18 straight from school and has held many roles in the newsroom during his time there.
Paul became sports editor at the News at the age of 27 and, apart from a few years as news editor before returning to his ‘first love,’ has held the position ever since.
He told HTFP: “Mostly I will miss the daily hurly-burly of creating the newspaper and the general banter around the office. That is what makes it enjoyable.
“It has been good. I think it is fair to say that anybody who goes into journalism in the provinces, you are not going to get rich but it is a good lifestyle, a good life, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Most of his highlights there have been sporting ones, such as Worcestershire County Cricket Club winning the County Championships and following the successes of the city’s rugby, basketball and football clubs.
Paul has also seen numerous changes in the industry, after starting out during the time of hot metal printing, moving through the introduction of computers to the industry, the introduction of QuarkXPress and the advent of the internet.
Asked how he would spend his retirement, Paul said: “I am certainly going to play golf more than I do now and just see what happens. It is going to be fun finding out.”
Group editor Peter John said: “Paul has given unstinting and invaluable service to a series of papers he has worked on at Worcester, but especially the Worcester News. A number of editors, not least of all me, owe him a debt of gratitude for his help and support.
“Paul will be greatly missed for his sharp news sense, his vast experience of the paper and the area, his huge range of contacts in the local sporting world of Worcestershire, and for his calm assurance in the middle of the chaos that is the norm of a daily paper.
“We wish him a very happy, well-earned retirement.”
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Yeeeeeeees. Good luck Ricko!
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Worked at the WEN in the mid 80s when Mr R was there. Grand chap! Wicked sense of humour, too…enjoy the rest Charmer Sharmer….
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One suspects the last of a fast disappearing breed. Long serving journos with detailed local knowledge. Good luck.
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Worked with Ricko for six years during my time at the WN. A genuine nice and honest guy. No more Knowledge Ricko! Yeeeeeeesssss!! Enjoy you’re retirement…
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Only 48 years? Thanks for popping in……
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Good luck Paul – enjoy your retirement. Hope you get to see lots of cricket. Let me know if you ever visit Taunton to watch a game.
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Failed to complete his half century. Looks like jug avoidance. Good innings nevertheless.
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Top guy. All the best Paul.
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Instead of racing to the nearest phone box on a Saturday afternoon it will be first to the bus stop, the copytakers have their money on you Paul.
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