Former Yorkshire Evening Post editor Malcom Barker, one of the most distinguished industry figures to whom we bade farewell in 2015

Each year has its sad goodbyes and the last 12 months have once again seen the journalistic profession bid farewell to some of its most distinguished figures, including a number of former daily editors.

Our Review of the Year series continues with a selection of obituaries which have featured on HoldtheFrontPage over the past 12 months, along with some of the tributes that have been paid to them by friends and colleagues.

Malcolm Barker

Yorkshire Evening Post editor from 1970 to 1987, who died aged 86 days after writing final column for sister daily the Yorkshire Post.

“He was a highly skilled writer and editor who made a great impact on the community he so ably served. He was well-loved by his staff and will be sadly missed.” – Malcolm’s successor as YEP editor Chris Bye

Barbara Buchanan

First female trainee news reporter at Bristol Evening World and former Britain’s Woman Journalist of the Year who died aged 100.

“Barbara was a great role model for me and dozens more female journalists who have followed in her West Country wake.” – Former colleague Quita Morgan

Jo-anne Davies

Features writer who spent 17 years with North-West Evening Mail who lost five-and-a-half year cancer battle aged 38.

“Right up to the end she kept a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She made the world a brighter place and that’s all there is to say, really.” – NWEM sports editor and Jo’s husband Matt Davies

John ‘Skipper’ Easton

Former assistant night news editor of The Herald, Glasgow who spent 30 years with the newspaper, who died aged 72.

“Almost uniquely among journalists, John Easton did not have an enemy in the world. His affable personality and dry sense of humour instead made friends of everyone he met.” – Herald writer Ian Bruce

Peter Emmett

Photographer who spent 50 years with Blackpool daily The Gazette, who died aged 84.

“Everyone will say he was Mr Blackpool. He was very much admired by everyone, a real character.” – Former Gazette photographer Peter Owen

Les Evans

Photographer for The Leader, Wrexham, for more than three decades, who died aged 74.

“He became THE face of the newspaper in Wrexham. Everyone knew and liked him and it was impossible to walk down any town street with him without being stopped for a chat a dozen times.” – Barrie Jones, editor-in-chief at NWN Media Ltd

Craig Finlay

Midlothian Advertiser journalist who was found dead at his home aged 39.

“He had a brilliant and often self-deprecating sense of humour and an uncanny ability to speak to people he had just met with a warmth and openness which would instantly make them feel comfortable.” – Craig’s partner and journalist Dawn Morrison

Derek Goddard

Gloucestershire Echo’s ‘Mr Sport’ for more than 40 years whose death prompted a front page tribute

“Derek was an absolute legend and a true gentleman. His knowledge of the game was second to none and his writing was superb.” – Echo editor Matt Holmes

Sheila Gow MBE

Reporter who spent 54 years with the Courier Media Group, in Kent and Sussex, and won MBE for services to journalism

“If she reported with tenacity, she was also personally and professionally kind and courteous – one of those people of whom it could truly be said that had there been more of them, the world would indeed be a better place.” – Former East Grinstead Courier editor Geraldine Durrant

Harry Hawkes

Birmingham Mail and Post crime writer who covered some of his patch’s most notorious murders, who died aged 86

“As far as his crime correspondent job went, he was the ultimate in the Midlands and far beyond. His list of contacts could not be bettered. He was a fantastic colleague to work with and a real character.” – Former colleague Fred Bromwich

Arthur Kay

West Country photojournalist for more than 60 years who continued to freelance for South Hams Newspapers into his 80s, who died aged 85.

“A statesman of his trade, no-one will come remotely close to filling the gap he has left – always professional, always funny, always Arthur.” – Freelance photographer Guy Channing

Neil Kerr

Former Derby Telegraph chief reporter who spent entire 45-year career at paper, who passed away aged 81.

“He had a ready wit and never took himself too seriously but he was always diligent and thorough and, like most old-school journalists, knew his patch in great detail.” – Telegraph deputy sports editor Colston Crawford

Rod Kiddell

Former East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star editor who died suddenly at home aged 72.

“He was one of my first bosses, and was always very supportive, measured, and understanding. He was, clearly, also a very good journalist.” – Current EADT and Ipswich Star editor Terry Hunt

Endell Laird

Former Daily Record and Sunday Mail editor who died aged 81

“He was never afraid to trust his own judgment. He made his mark when he was left on the subs’ desk the night the Ibrox Disaster broke. Although he was not an executive, he made the decision to stop the presses, strip the paper and produce a disaster special.” – Former Record columnist Tom Brown

Ken Morgan

NUJ general secretary from 1970 to 1977 and former Stockport Express reporter who died aged 86.

“Ken Morgan served as general secretary with distinction. He steered the union through turbulent waters with style, forbearance and commitment.” – NUJ assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley

Don Mildenhall MBE

Former Western Gazette editor and Guild of British Newspaper Editors president who died aged 89.

“He felt that ‘small’ news stories had just as much right to be told as the bigger news.” – Don’s daughter Sarah

Peter Myerscough

Award-winning reporter at The Gazette, Blackpool, who spent 40 years with the newspaper, who died aged 84.

“Peter’s local knowledge and ingrained skill contributed so much to the newspaper through the second half of the 20th century.” – Former Gazette deputy editor David Upton

Fred Norris

Birmingham Evening Mail theatre critic for 50 years and was city’s ‘Mr Showbiz’ who died aged 88.

“It’s very sad news because he was one of the Mail’s biggest characters and will be sorely missed.” – Comedian Ken Dodd

Ken Rice

Former East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star editor who died aged 73.

“Ken was a great journalist and editor. He had an intuitive understanding of his readers, and during his editorship the EADT enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth.” – Current EADT editor Terry Hunt

Dave Sharp

Former Telford Journal editor who spent 40 years with Midlands News Association, who died of a heart attack aged 64.

“His forte was the big story. On any big story, Dave would be the person you wanted on it, turning his hand to it in almost record time. He was in his element in that kind of situation.” – Former Shropshire Star colleague Richard Ewels

Huston Spratt

First ever picture editor of The Sentinel, Stoke, who died aged 85

“For many years, Huston was The Sentinel as far as what photographs appeared in it.” – Pete Conway, father of pop star Robbie Williams

Allan Williamson

Former Central Independent Newspapers group chief photographer who won more than 40 awards died aged 60.

“I have never forgotten an impeccably professional colleague who embodied the true spirit of local journalism in every single frame and who had more understanding of what made local newspapers tick than scores of modern media management types combined will ever have.” – Former Lichfield Mercury editor Tim Hewitt

Keith Winsper

Print apprentice turned feature writer who died aged 67 less than three weeks after retiring from Brighton daily The Argus.

“Though I only knew Keith for a short time, it didn’t take long to understand he was a fine man, a first-class journalist and a wonderful servant to The Argus.” – Current Argus editor Mike Gilson

Mick Wood

Crime reporter and news editor who spent almost 40 years at The Sentinel, Stoke, who died aged 70.

“He had a terrific news sense, great contacts, an encyclopaedic knowledge of local life, and was very much admired by colleagues because they knew he was Sentinel through and through and had a heart of gold.” – Sentinel editor-in-chief Martin Tideswell

Karl Woodward

Former Western Mail and South Wales Echo football writer who died aged 75

“He wrote with authority, integrity and humour and had the thickest contacts book in Welsh football. His match reports and columns were a must-read for any football fan.” – Former colleague Phil Blanche