One of the Midlands’ most respected journalists, Clem Jones CBE, has died aged 87.

He was dedicated to journalism and press freedom and spent many years working for the Express and Star in Wolverhampton.

Picture courtesy of the Shropshire Star

Born in Wales, Clem (pictured), joined a local paper at 16 and moved to the Express and Star in 1943 where he went on to tackle virtually every editorial job including film and drama critic, gossip writer, features editor and news editor.

He edited the paper for ten years, from 1960 to 1970, and saw its circulation soar during his time in the editor’s chair.

He was also a member of the Press Council, serving on its complaints committee and was a member of the International Press Institute and the Commonwealth Press Union.

His services to journalism were marked with the award of the CBE in 1972 and after retiring he continued to speak out on the role of newspapers.

He retired to the Essex coast but later moved to Hampshire where he became the St Mary Bourne village correspondent for the Andover Advertiser.

Bob Satchwell, director of the Society of Editors said: “Clem was an inspiration to a generation of regional newspaper editors.

“He was hugely respected and made a massive contribution to the affairs of the Guild of Editors, which became the Society of Editors in 1999.

“Both as president and in retirement he fought hard and long for the cause of press freedom and the public’s right to know.

“His impact on the Guild was second to none. As well as leading editors’ campaigns he chronicled the history of their battles in A History of the Guild 1946-95 published to mark the 50th anniversary.”