An award-winning journalist who learnt her trade at a weekly newspaper has paid tribute to her first editor in an address at a charity’s thanksgiving service.

Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford, left, hailed former Wokingham Times editor Adam McKinlay when she spoke at a ceremony celebrating 150 years of the Journalists’ Charity at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street.

Alex completed her journalism qualifications at The Wokingham Times before moving to the BBC and later Sky News.

She was named Journalist of the Year four times by the Royal Television Society and received an OBE for services to broadcast journalism.

“He was the editor who took me on as an 18-year-old when no-one else would. Everyone needs an Adam McKinlay,” she told The Wokingham Times.

“He came from the school of journalism where it was obligatory to say – at least once a day to your staff – you’re lucky to have this job.”