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Former weekly editor and renowned racing tipster dies at 92

Bob WiseA former editor who spent more than 70 years in the regional press and was a noted horseracing tipster has died aged 92.

Tributes have been paid to Bob Wise, pictured left, who spent his entire career at newspapers in Wiltshire, rising through the ranks to edit the Marlborough Times.

He also wrote a weekly column for the Handicap Book for more than 30 years and after retiring from day-to-day journalism continued writing a weekly racing column for the Wiltshire Gazette until well into his 80s.

Bob died in a nursing home in Royal Wootton Bassett on 1 August and his burial service took place on Tuesday at Marlborough Cemetery followed by a thanksgiving service at St Mary’s Church in the town.

Brought up in the village of West Overton, Bob began his career at the Times after leaving Marlborough Grammar School aged 16.

He was midway through his training during the Second World War when he joined the Home Guard, and later served in the Far East with the RAF’s wireless communications section.

After the war he returned to reporting, while beginning to build a profile as a racing correspondent.

He moved to the Swindon Advertiser before returning to edit the Times, a position he held for many years.

Former Gazette journalist Nigel Kerton, who worked alongside Mr Wise in Marlborough for almost 50 years, told the Advertiser: “Bob was the old fashioned journalist who had a network of contacts in every village, always researched his stories thoroughly and was well respected by all who knew him.

“As an editor he encouraged numerous young journalists into their careers and although I worked on a rival paper he gave me a lot of help in my early days and we became lasting friends.”

Outside of journalism, he enjoyed sports including football, tennis and snooker.

His widow Elsie said: “Bob loved all sports but racing was the thing he liked most.”

Bob’s wife and sons, Roger and Robin, were at his bedside when he died at the Miranda nursing home in Royal Wootton Bassett.

He is also survived by a daughter, Rosalind, and two grandchildren, Cecilia and Samuel.

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  • August 13, 2015 at 9:09 am
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    I met and got to know Bob in the early 80s when I was starting my career in journalism. He gave me a lot of help and advice, and he was invariably cheerful and friendly, one of those people whose company is always a pleasure. A true gentleman. My condolences to his family.

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