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Editor who was named Cornish Bard dies aged 97

Arthur VenningA former weekly newspaper chief who also served regional chairman of the Editors’ Guild has died in his late nineties.

Tributes have been paid to Arthur Venning, pictured left, who edited the Cornish & Devon Post.

Arthur edited the Post, based in his hometown of Launceston, from 1960 until his retirement in 1984 at the age of 65.

He had also been regional chairman of the Editors’ Guild and president of the South West Federation of the Newspaper Society.

Bill Roberts, who worked with Arthur for 20 years, told the Post: “He was very fair. He was very genuine and first and foremost a true loyal Launcestonian, and a good Cornishman.”

Born in 1919 above the shop ran by his mother in Launceston Town Square, Arthur’s father had been a minority shareholder and manager of the advertising side of the Post.

Away from his career, he was named a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, which promotes Cornish culture, in 1969 and was given the Bardic name Dyller Dunheved — meaning ‘Launceston Editor’.

In 2000 he was made honoured burgess of the town, an award made in recognition of significant service made by an individual to the community over a considerable period of time.

He was married to Vera for 72 years, and is survived by two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.