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Publisher who went on to run children’s newspaper dies aged 63

steve-edwardsA former regional newspaper publisher who went on to run a newspaper aimed at primary school children has died aged 63.

Tributes have been paid to Steve Edwards, who had battled stomach cancer for the past three years.

Steve, left, served as managing director of the Reading Evening Post during the late 1980s and 1990s, and was previously deputy managing editor of The Scotsman.

He went on to buy the Primary Times, which is aimed at families with primary school-age children, in 2000.

The Times now has 61 separate editions across the British Isles, and carries information about events, attractions and family days out.

Born and raised in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Steve began his career with Thomson Regional Newspapers and moved to Edinburgh in 1983 to works at the Scotsman.

After moving to Reading, Steve began a 27 year association with Henley Rugby Club as both a player and spectator.

An obituary on the club’s website reads: “In 2000 he turned his back on the corporate world and bought a small listings magazine business, targeted at the parents of primary school children, and moved the business to Henley.

“Over the following 16 years Steve and his dedicated team have grown Primary Times, through both direct operations and franchises, to now have the biggest print run of any ‘free’ magazine in Europe.”

It continues: “The immediate reaction to the untimely death of this man for all seasons has shown how much he was loved and how big a void he has left in the lives of his family and his myriad friends.”

Steve passed away on 15 December and his funeral will be held at 11.30am this morning at Reading Crematorium.

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  • December 23, 2016 at 8:44 pm
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    Talented funny outrageous and a classified legend as well as being a staunch Welshman great newspaper man and publisher
    he was one of life’s charismatic legends.. Sincere sympathies to his family. He will live on in the memories of his family and friends forever
    RIP

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