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Tributes to marathon-running London journalist

Tributes have been paid to a journalist who worked on national and regional newspapers in London for more than 40 years.

Terry Newell, 75, was a sub-editor, feature writer and editor during his 12 years on Archant’s Times series newspapers in London until his retirement in 2010.

Working on The Kilburn Times and the then Willesden and Brent Chronicle, he is credited with helping the paper reach sales of almost 10,000.

He also managed the considerable feat of having run in every London Marathon until 2008 when ill health led doctors to advise him to slow down.

Terry began his career in 1958 learning his trade at magazines such as Health & Strength and Practical Householder before moving on to work as a freelance reporter and sub-editor on newspapers such as The Daily Sketch and The Morning Advertiser.

A huge sports fan, he also worked the Saturday shift for the Sunday Telegraph sports desk where he subbed copy and wrote rugby match reports.  At the same time he moved from freelance to staff member of The Daily Mirror where he worked as a sub-editor on the features desk until the mid 1990s.

Lorraine King, news editor of the Times Series, said: “To say Terry was one of a kind would not do him justice.
“He was one of the finest journalists you could ever meet and one of the truest friends you could hope for.

“Few who met him will ever forget the love he had for Brent and the kindness he showed so many junior reporters starting out in the trade.

“Neither will we forget his Friday evening routine of frogmarching staff out of the office and into the pub where he would always buy the first round.”

Terry passed away at home with his family earlier this month.  He leaves a son and a daughter.