A former regional press journalist now with a national Sunday newspaper is the new chairman of the Journalists’ Charity.

Chris Boffey, a former reporter with Newcastle daily The Journal and now news editor of The Observer, has taken over from Robert Warren.

Mr Warren recently finished his two-year stint as chairman and was a trustee of the charity for a total of ten years.

He had been battling cancer and died earlier this week.

Mr Boffey has also worked as news editor with the Daily Mirror and the Sunday Telegraph.

One of his two sons is also a journalist, working for the Mail on Sunday.

The Journalists’ Charity, which opened a £4m care home in Surrey in summer 2007, helps journalists and their families who have fallen on hard times.