A long-serving chief reporter has retired after 32 years with a Scottish weekly.
Lex Brown bowed out last Friday as chief reporter of the Irvine Herald following a career spanning 39 years.
A tribute written by his news editor, Lorraine Howard, appeared in yesterday’s edition of the newspaper.
Lorraine described Lex as “the best local reporter I have known” and praised his intro-writing skills.
She wrote: “On Friday he hung up his notepad and I have to admit my heart broke a little that day. He’s poised for a life of travel and relaxation instead of deadlines, press officers and busy diaries.
“You see, not only is he the best local reporter I have known but he is a skilled writer and above all, a friend.
“Admittedly I was terrified when I first met him 19 years ago as a shy cub reporter who feared the man who had covered every story imaginable and didn’t suffer fools gladly.
“He’s been my mentor all this time and his ability to write short, sharp intros to stories is something I dream of achieving.”
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Do you hang up a notepad? Surely you’d “close it for the last time” if you were looking for a cliche?
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Personally, I hung up my beer and egg-stained tie when I stopped being a reporter. Hardly worn one since.
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Who knows, perhaps he does hang up his notepad? Perhaps that’s the secret to having served nearly 40 years in this industry and being able to retire, rather than being forced out? Congratulations and best wishes…old reporters don’t really retire, you just find them trying to decipher their shorthand notes made in a rainstorm.
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Good to hear of someone who has retired when they are good and ready – and not got kicked out the door before their time.
Nice tribute, Lorraine. On the notebook front, I’d have gone for logged off (as an ex-slave to the screen) – but who cares?
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