A former daily newspaper editor from Liverpool has been named as the new boss of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Centre.

Mike Unger, (58), was the editor of the Liverpool Daily Post between 1979 and 1982, before moving to the Post’s sister paper the Echo from 1982 to 1983.

He then spent the next 14 years as editor of the Manchester Evening News.

Mike replaces the centre’s current chief executive Roger Evans, having been involved with cancer charities in Merseyside for 20 years.

He said: “My daughter Sarah died of leukaemia when she was 16 at Alder Hey, which got me very involved with cancer charities in the area.

“In 1982 I set up the Merseyside Bone Marrow Trust with three friends and there are still centres at Alder Hey and the Royal today.

“I have never smoked, but have watched two or three friends of mine desperately try to give it up.

“I know how terribly hard it can be and this is my way of helping people do that.”

Founder and president of the foundation, Professor Ray Donnelly, said: “Mike Unger is a man of vision and integrity with huge experience at senior management level and an excellent understanding of the mission of the Foundation.”

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