A former newsroom copy typist who became the first woman reporter at The Sentinel has told how she won her job after writing an impromptu front page story.

Kath Gosling, who became a journalist at the Staffordshire newspaper in 1967, had been in a near-deserted office when a call came through about a break-in at a school which had seen rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs slaughtered.

With no one to pass the details on to, Kath decided to write up the story herself – something which got her noticed and eventually convinced management to give her the job she dreamed of.

Kath said: “The office was almost empty, so I wrote the story as fully and dramatically as I could.

“When the first edition came out I was shocked to see it as the front page lead.

“Questions were then asked and when the other reporters found out it was me, they demanded I join the union and brought up the question of wages.

“This was my opportunity and when the furore had died down I went to see the editor and asked if I could become a reporter.”

Kath today

Kath was initially told the paper didn’t have women reporters, but she kept on pestering the editor and eventually he asked her for any writing she had done and spoke to head office.

She had previously written a number of stories for the paper unnoticed and had a wealth of cuttings to show for it.

Kath said: “The following Monday he called me in and said that, unusual as it was, I could start as a reporter the following week.

“My wages jumped from £3.50 a week to £20. That was the beginning and I’ve never looked back.”

She added: “It was around 1967 when I became a reporter. I went to inquests, rang up the fire brigade every day and went to court. I was doing the same as the men.

“And when they started tending to give me garden parties, I insisted I could do the same as the men.

“I’d already worked at the paper, so people were very friendly in the office. I think they were glad to have a female.”

Kath in her days at work

Kath retired in the late 1980s, but is still remembered fondly by readers.

She said: “With being a reporter, I loved meeting people and finding out about them. In fact, I still do.

“What amazes me is that even though I left The Sentinel almost 20 years ago, now when I mention my name people remember me.

“I think it’s good there are a lot more women in newspapers now. We’re just as good as the men.

“I don’t think I would have become a reporter if I hadn’t been so determined.

“I made it happen, and I was in the right place at the right time.”