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Former editor and honorary doctor dies aged 73

A musical former Scottish weekly editor who was awarded an honorary doctorate has died aged 73.

Dr Russell Reid spent nearly half a century in newspapers before retiring from the editorship of The Sunday Post in 2001.

But he didn’t leave the profession completely as he continued contributing classical music reviews to Dundee daily The Courier until a few months before his death.

Born in Dundee, Dr Reid joined The Courier and Post’s parent company DC Thomson as a general news reporter in 1953 working from its Arbroath office for the Evening Telegraph, The Courier and People’s Journal.

He later returned to the city after doing National Service with the RAF in 1957 and became a feature writer with The Sunday Post.

A lengthy service with The Sunday Post saw him climb the company ladder to become deputy editor in 1983 and editor six years later.

Away from the office Dr Reid was an active member of the Scottish Daily Newspaper Editors’ committee, becoming vice-chairman in 1995 and chairman in 1998 as well as the Scottish representative on the Newspaper Editors’ Code of Practice committee.

In 2002, he was recognised by the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society for his lifetime contribution at Scottish Press Awards while in 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by Dundee University.

The funeral takes place at 12.45pm on 25 March at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Constitution Road, Dundee.

  • Dr Reid ready for retirement in 2001
    (c) DC Thomson & Co Ltd