AddThis SmartLayers

Life of talented Yorkshire journalist celebrated

A journalist who died  from cancer last month has been remembered at an event to celebrate her life.

Sue Mason worked at the Hull Daily Mail for 20 years and was assistant editor of the title’s magazine The Journal at the time of her diagnosis in 2010.

She died last month at the age 52.

On Sunday friends and family, including past and present staff from the Mail gathered at a venue in Hessle, Yorkshire and shared their memories of Sue, who had married husband Norman two days before Christmas.

Sue, who had two children and four stepchildren, became ill in September 2010 and was later diagnosed with breast and bone cancer which spread.

At the special event guests put their favourite memories of Sue in a memory box for her daughters Serena, 16, and Harriet, 9, to open later.

Photos of Sue, many of which were taken while she was assignments as a journalist, were displayed on a big screen.

Speaking at the event, Jo Davison, former women’s editor at the Mail, said: “Sue was such a sweet, positive, loyal person who never had a bad word to say about anyone and everybody warmed to her.

“She was also a very talented writer who really cared about what she did. Through her work she made a lot of friends, both within the company and within East Yorkshire.

“She was a very special woman, even though she didn’t think she was – she was very unassuming.

“I don’t think she ever really understood how much she meant to people, so it is a real pleasure for everyone to be here.”

Jo also read tributes from friends who could not attend, including former Journal editor Keith Perry.

She added that it was only those closest to Sue who had known how ill she was as she had kept it hidden to protect her girls.

Some of Sue’s family will be taking part in the Hull 10k to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie nurses, who cared for Sue in the final stages of her illness.

 

 

2 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • February 16, 2012 at 11:24 am
    Permalink

    Sorry to hear of Sue’s passing.

    Does anyone know where Keith Perry is these days? I’m an ex-colleague.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)
  • February 16, 2012 at 11:44 am
    Permalink

    In an increasing difficult environment for those of used to better days, Sue was always a champion of her product (The Journal, mainly) and a thoroughly lovely lady. I’m glad she received the sort of send off she deserved

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)