A former newspaper advertising boss hailed as one of the ‘giants’ of the regional press industry in the 70s and 80s has died aged 82.
David Teague was headhunted from The Times to become advertisement director of the Nottingham Evening Post in 1973 when it was still owned by T. Bailey Forman Ltd.
He later went on to become marketing director for the company with responsibility for newspaper sales, and in that role formed a ten-year partnership with the then Post editor Barrie Williams.
Barrie, who went on edit the Western Morning News, hailed David as “one of the giants of the regional newspaper industry’s halcyon days in the 1970s and 1980s.”
David Teague, pictured with his wife Raye
Paying tribute to his former colleague, Barrie credited David with having pioneered the development of classified advertising in the Post which went on to transform the regional press.
“From just a handful of ‘small ads’ when he took over, by the 1980s the Post was publishing more than a million a year. He also introduced advertisement-led colour sections and inserts – a ground breaking development in the UK – years before the national newspapers,” he told HTFP.
“Under Christopher Pole-Carew’s stewardship the Nottingham Evening Post was always one step ahead of the rest of the UK newspaper industry in new technology and with David Teague leading simultaneous innovations in advertising and marketing the paper became a world leader with a huge international reputation.”
David went on to become a leading light in the International Newspaper Promotions Association – a worldwide organisation dedicated to sharing ideas, experience and expertise.
Added Barrie: “Teaguey, as we always called him, was a genuine one-off. They broke the mould when they made him and he went on breaking moulds himself – invariably for the better – throughout a long and distinguished life.
“He was a consummate professional, totally dedicated to the newspaper industry to which he contributed enormously, locally in Nottinghamshire, nationally in the UK and internationally through his extraordinary world-wide reputation.
“Those who worked for David will remember a very hard task master but one for whom they had great respect, admiration and affection. Those who worked with him will remember a marvellously supportive colleague always ready to listen, to advise and to enthuse.
“Me? I will remember one of the best friends I ever had and I will really miss him.”
Educated at Archbishop Tenisons Grammar School in London, David served in the RAF before moving to Zambia where he worked in the motor trade.
Returning to England he joined Thomson Regional Newspapers as a trainee manager and went on to work in sales roles for a host of regional titles including the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Sheffield Morning Telegraph, Belfast Telegraph, The Scotsman and the Western Mail.
David died at his home in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire last weekend after a battle with cancer during which he had declined chemotherapy treatment.
He leaves his wife Raye, who was the Evening Post’s education correspondent, daughters Lyndsay, Allie, Jo and Kate and seven grandchildren.
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Spent some formative years in Nottingham and began my Classified management career when David was Marketing director. Tough task master but a formidable talent and font of knowledge.
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So sad to hear of David’s death. Tough, yes, but fair and always prepared to help. He was part of a unique trio, with Barrie and PC who led the industry in so many ways. Barrie was the best of 12 editors I worked for, PC the best managing director and David was also a pioneer in his own sphere. Love to Raye and his lovely daughters.xx
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I first worked for David at the Belfast Telegraph in 1964, then In Edinburgh and Blackburn. From him I learned the advertising business and how to enjoy the demanding but stimulating world of newspapers.
He was my friend and mentor for many years and I shall miss him very much.
George Wilson.
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It was quite something for a marketing man to have been so deeply respected – and liked, even – by so many journalists, but David managed it with ease. I was aware, as assistant editor under Barrie Williams, that much of the paper’s success at that time was down to the unique relationship between editorial and marketing. I was aware then that I was privileged to be working with two such giants in their field and I’ve become even more aware of it in the years since.
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Oh dear: another of the best has passed on; dear Raye, my deepest sympathies.
I so well remember when I asked David to join us at the Nottingham Evening Post. He told me I couldn’t afford him. I said “the best always come cheap” offered him more than he asked for and told him to bring his Jaguar car with you!! We clicked from the beginning: so many brilliant ideas, which we now take for granted: colour sections, separate ads sections……..: as a visitor from Sweden to David said: visiting Nottingham is like walking into a snow storm with all the snowflakes as new ideas!
That was David’s unique contribution – along with so much other talent we had together in those happy days!
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Very sad to hear of David’s death. His advice and guidance were immensely helpful when I was Business Editor at the Post, and he always respected and upheld the dividing line between advertising and editorial integrity. He also had an embracing sense of fun and humour.
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Terrible news to hear, belatedly, on my return from holiday. David Teague was a proper newspaper man: rarely for a director on the commercial side of the trade, he had a true understanding of good journalism and a true respect for good journalists. He had a reputation as one you didn’t mess with, but as a young reporter, newsdesk operative and sub-editor I was always touched by the interest he showed in me and my work. Long into his retirement, chance meetings on the streets of Nottingham would prompt a volley of searching questions about the newspaper business he once helped lead with such confidence and good humour. My sympathy goes to Raye and the Teague family.
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