The assistant editor of the Doncaster Free Press has retired after a career in journalism stretching back 50 years.

Ken Hopkins, 65, has a reputation as one of Yorkshire’s most respected journalists and will be replaced at the Free Press by Kath Finlay, who joined the newspaper in 1996 as chief reporter.

Ken’s career began in 1951 when at the age of 15 he joined the Scarborough Evening News and Mercury advertising department.

Two years later he transferred into the editorial department as an indentured junior reporter where he remained until leaving in 1957 to work in the press office of the National Coal Board.

His work there included handling the media during the Flixborough disaster, the miners’ strike and the opening of the new mine at Selby. He became well known to both regional and national newspaper journalists as he dealt with their enquiries.

After being made redundant from British Coal in 1990 Ken briefly worked at the Doncaster Advertiser before joining the Doncaster Free Press.

He rose quickly through the ranks after beginning as a reporter being promoted to news editor and then assistant editor in 1993.

Ken attended a farewell lunch with friends and colleagues at a Doncaster restaurant last week.

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