Tributes have been paid to former Bournemouth Echo editor Neal Butterworth after he lost a nine-month battle with cancer.
Neal, who was 55, died in the early hours of today at Poole Hospital.
After leaving his role editor of the Echo in 2011, Neal had moved to Spain to begin a new life with wife Julie.
But after being diagnosed with bowel cancer shortly afterwards, he returned to Poole for treatment.
He wrote at the time: “From the positivity of the people treating me, to the support of wonderful family and fantastic friends, I know at some stage I will kick cancer’s sorry ass.
“And because my own cancer can’t at this stage be cured, I’ll just have to keep sticking the boot in.”
Julie told the Daily Echo today: “We have lost one of life’s very special and truly wonderful people.
“He will leave a massive hole in many people’s lives that will never be filled.”
Neal’s brother Mark added: “He was such a talented lad but he never made a big deal about anything. I am sure we don’t know half of all the things we did.”
“I do know that he was held in huge esteem by so many people and did a lot of amazing things in the community. We have always been incredibly proud of him.”
Manchester-born Neal spent three years on the books of Manchester City, where he played for the reserve side.
But he gave up the promise of a career in top flight football for his dream of being a journalist.
He began his career in journalism in the North West and was once the youngest newspaper editor in the country, appointed to the role at Eddy Shah’s Stockport Messenger aged 23.
He moved south in 1987 and worked as an editor within Southern Newspapers, now Newsquest, until becoming editor of the Daily Echo and Advertiser Series in 1998.
In 2008, Neal become editor-in-chief of the Echo and its sister title the Dorset Echo before being made redundant in December 2011.
He was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by Bournemouth University in 2007.
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So sad to hear of Neal’s untimely death. Although we were friendly as colleagues we were even better mates after we both left our posts.
His ready wit and unfailing fellowship will be sorely missed. Sincere condolences to his loved ones.
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Working with Neal at the Daily Echo in Bournemouth was a privilege. He was a great Editor. He will be missed by the many people who had the pleasure of knowing him. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
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So very sad, Neal was such a lovely man always with a ready smile and an infectious enthusiasm for life. My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time
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So sad to hear of such a tragic loss. Neal was a truly top bloke. Sincere condolences to his family.
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Such a sad loss. I had the privilege of working with him for a number of years in Bournemouth and it was never less than a pleasure. A fantastic editor, gentleman and friend. Thoughts are with Julie and the family. RIP big fella
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Very sad. Neal was a very great journalist and genuinely nice man, always appreciative. One of the best.
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First Mel Cook, now Neal. I don’t know what the grand plan is, but it’s a work of incompetence if it involves taking good people like this from us. Neal’s glass was always half full and he was a pleasure to be with. He absolutely loved his job and was revered in Bournemouth. Such a terrible, sad loss. My thoughts are with his family
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My sincere thoughts are with his family and friends. After losing my partner – Mel Cook the editor of the Nottingham Post, only weeks ago I can truely say how painful it is to lose a loved one. I didnt know Neal but from the lovely comments he sounded a great guy.
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Shattering news. Neal really was one of the best – a lovely guy, a good journalist and always great company. He’ll be hugely missed by a lot of people.
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Such sad news. Neal was a brilliant writer and even better company.
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So sorry to hear the news this morning. Neal was an editor who was different to any of those I worked with. He tried his best to do what was right by his staff. I’m so sorry he was taken from us at such an early age. He had plans for a new life after leaving the Echo. It’s horrible that he wasn’t given the time to carry them out.
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So sad to hear about Neal. We were both ex soccer colleagues and he gave me a job running the sports desk for the Messenger group in Bury many years ago. I later took over from him as editor when he moved south following the take over by Johnston Press. We kept in touch until he left the Echo and I know he will be sadly missed. He did a fantastic job at every paper that he worked at and was always a very popular and enthusiastic journalist.
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So sad to hear this shocking news and sincere condolences to Julie and all Neal’s family.
Mr Neal Butterworth was truly one in a million. A brilliant writer and Editor like no other, a fantastic ambassador for Dorset, a great sense of humour, so incredibly kind, understanding and easy to talk to as a work colleague, and no matter how many years went by, on the odd occasions that we’d bump into each other or had cause to email with work related stuff (even though no longer working for the same group) he always found time for a chat and catch up and would be as friendly and interested in what was going on as if we’d only seen each other the previous day.
Respect is something you can only hope for in life – and particularly in this business – Neal had it in shed loads from those who were privileged to work with him, and I am proud to say I was one of them.
RIP Neal, you were simply the best.
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I feel fortunate to have worked so many years with Neal as my boss, and more importantly as a friend. He was one of life’s truly inspiring people. He was always there with guidance and counsel, and I admired the way he led the team, taking us with him thanks to his constantly positive outlook and belief, his genuine human touch and his humour.
Fond adieus Neal.
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I had the pleasure of working with Neal on the Stockport Express in the early 80s. And it was a pleasure. Both professionally and personally he was a good man. We went our different ways after that but I’d seen his name crop up and was stunned by yesterday’s news.
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So sad. Neal will remain in my memory as an inspirational ‘top bloke’ with a wicked sense of humour and a smiling word of encouragement for everybody. A light has gone out of the world. Sincere condolences to his family.
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