Every year we honour those have left us after spending their lives contributing to the regional journalism industry.
Here, in the last of our Review of the Year series, we feature a selection of obituaries which have featured on HTFP over the past 12 months, along with some of the tributes that have been paid to them by friends and colleagues.
Jenny Barnes
Former South Wales Argus and Abergavenny Chronicle photographer who won the MBE last year. She died aged 75.
“I have known Jenny personally and professionally for more than 30 years and had huge respect and affection for her.” – Chronicle editor Liz Davies
Maurice Boardman
Bath Chronicle editor who spent 36 years in total with the newspaper. He died aged 91.
“He was very distinguished and a brilliant colleague. A great man who quietly liked to help others.” – Former Chronicle chief sub-editor Gerald Walker
Don Booker
Barnsley Chronicle editor who was involved with the newspaper for more than 70 years. He died aged 87.
“He was a very good journalist indeed who deeply cared for the reputation of his paper and his job and took it very seriously without ever losing his sense of humour.” – Sir Michael Parkinson, a former journalist on the rival South Yorkshire Times
David Briffett
Editor of the West Sussex County Times between 1977 and 2001, who died aged 79.
“To me, he was a newspaper editor and community champion of the highest order. A role model for any aspiring journalist. A man who I knew to be a master of his trade and at the top of his game.” – Gary Shipton, Sussex Newspapers’ editor in chief
Kenneth Burge
Editor of the Somerset County Gazette between 1974 and 1987, who died aged 89.
“An outstanding editor, who cared passionately about his newspapers. He always set a fine example to his staff – both in the way he approached the job and the way he conducted himself.” – Ken Bird, one of his successors as editor-in-chief of the Gazette series
Anne Caine
Editor of the Greenock Telegraph between 2011 and 2013, who died aged 47.
“Anne was someone who took pride in working with the Telegraph’s team, making them feel valued and developing and nurturing their talent.” – Brian Hossack, her successor at the Telegraph
Sarah Clarke
Medway Messenger news editor who lost her cancer battle aged 55.
“The whole newsroom was in shock when we heard the news. Sarah had a fantastic, positive outlook on life and we had all been expecting her to return to work in the near future.” – KM Group editorial director Ian Carter
Nick Cole
Journalist who spent four decades with the Scunthorpe Telegraph, and died just weeks into his retirement aged 72.
“Nick was a dedicated newspaperman, a huge character and a champion of the community in Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire. He had a traditional approach to news, preferring to be out and about in the community meeting contacts, picking up leads and hunting down stories.” – Telegraph digital editor Jamie Macaskill
Lionel Cowin
Editor of the Isle of Man Courier for more than 30 years, and also edited the Isle of Man Examiner and Manx Independent, who died aged 73.
“[Lionel] played a major role at the centre of an expanding group under Ramsey-based businessman John J. Christian. He was editor of all three titles for 12 years until he retired in 2005.” – Examiner obituary
Martin Dowse
Bournemouth Echo journalist who later made the move into regional TV with ITV Meridian.
“Martin was a pleasure to work with. A great man who showed feeling and passion in his job. I was honoured to work with him.” – ITV News Meridian presenter Fred Dinenage.
Betty Duncan
Deputy editor at the Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer for many years, who was in her 90s when she died.
“She was one of the most hard-working journalists I’ve ever known and could always be relied upon to come up with that elusive lead story.” – Former Advertizer sports editor Stuart Laurie
David Faulkner
Managing director at NWN Media until November 2017, who died suddenly aged 71.
“David truly was a larger than life character, who built up so many friends and contacts across the country from his distinguished 50 year career in regional papers.” – Son Paul Faulkner
Keith Gale
Twice deputy editor of the Wiltshire Times, who died aged 72 days after marrying his former newspaper colleague Pauline Bucknall.
“Keith was one of the good guys of the newspaper world. He was a ferociously hard worker, kind, loyal and very, very funny.” – Former Swindon Advertiser and Oxford Mail editor Gary Lawrence
Kath Gosling
First ever female reporter at Stoke-on-Trent daily The Sentinel, who spent her entire career with the newspaper. She died aged 90.
“Working with Kath was a privilege. Her sensitivity, humanity and writing ability gave her a respect among her readers that journalists of the modern era would envy.” – Former Sentinel sub-editor Terry James
Mark Jamieson
Photographer who worked for the Coleraine Chronicle and supplied photographs to picture desks at all of Northern Ireland’s main newspapers. He died aged 60.
“Mark was very much respected by everyone in the newspaper industry and a lot of editors and photographers spoke very highly of him and him quality of work as he always carried out with great professionalism.” – Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association chairman Freddie Parkinson
Frank Johnson
Worked for the Northern Echo for 43 years – 42 of them as its Sunderland AFC reporter. He died aged 78.
“Frank was from the old school of journalism and will be remembered by many as a great character. He spoke straight from the heart, and was always passionate about Sunderland.” – Former Echo editor Peter Barron
Alex Kalinik
Former South Wales Argus news editor, who died in his thirties weeks before he was due to marry.
“Alex will be greatly missed by us here. He was a gentle and clever young man with a quick and dry wit and great ability.” – Argus editor Nicole Garnon
Warwick Lane
Newark Advertiser sports reporter, who died aged 25 after a second cancer battle.
“He was a brilliant sports reporter, a popular colleague and, more so, a good man. He was somebody we could rely upon and always a happy volunteer to go the extra mile.” – Advertiser news editor Dan Churcher
Nick Machin
Former South Wales Echo news editor, who died aged 49 after battling a brain tumour.
“A true professional, and a pleasure to deal with. No matter what the task, he did the job with a smile on his face, a mug of tea in his hand and a joke never far from his lips.” – Media Wales editor-in-chief Paul Rowland
David Meek
Manchester United writer a the Manchester Evening News for almost 40 years. He died aged 88.
“His words probably inspired me more than anyone else to enter this profession, and when I later met him he was a lovely, helpful soul, a true gentleman.” – Stuart Brennan, the MEN’s current chief Manchester City writer
Tristan Nichols
Award-winning former Plymouth Herald defence reporter, who died suddenly aged 40 just four months after becoming a father.
“Tristan was one of the best journalists and one of the nicest people I have ever worked with. He was a determined yet brutally honest reporter – a rare mix in modern journalism.” – Herald print editor Clare Ainsworth
David Perry
Parliamentary correspondent who served the Lancashire Telegraph, Edinburgh Evening News and Press & Journal over the course of four decades.
“Parliamentary correspondents are a special breed and David was one if the best-connected and hardest of workers” – Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Malcolm Prescott
Journalist who was the youngest ever editor of the Surrey Comet at 27. He died aged 49.
“He was brilliant at his job right to the end. He was always seen with a pen behind his ear and a newspaper under his arm.” – Malcolm’s wife Libby
Norman Railton
Edited the Ryedale Gazette & Herald from 1964 until his retirement in 1987. He died aged 89.
“What he doesn’t know about his subject isn’t worth knowing. Many are the young and older men privileged to have worked with him who have gone off into the world more sure of their craft.” – Former colleague Jack Childe
Paul Ricketts
Former Worcester News news and sports editor, who died suddenly aged 67.
“We’ve missed Paul’s presence on the sports desk and in the Worcester News office ever since he retired and this news has been difficult to take in. Ricko meant the world to us.” – James Reece, Paul’s successor as News sports editor
Frank Sellens
Journalist who wrote for the Kent & Sussex Courier for almost 80 years. He died aged 93.
“A true gentleman, he was always impeccably dressed, utterly charming and brimming with good humour. His writing sparkled, and there was nothing about the local area he didn’t know.” – Former Courier editor Ian Read
Howard Taylor
Owner of Taylor Newspapers, whose unexpected death at 63 saw the Oxfordshire Guardian series, The Oxford Paper and Basingstoke Observer close with immediate effect.
“He was a lovely man and always listened to fresh ideas from reporters.” – Loughlan Campbell, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government press officer
Roy Wardale
Served as editor of the Southern Evening Echo from 1972 until his retirement in 1987. He died aged 89.
“He was a newspaper man through and through.” – Annie Bullen, Roy’s partner for the last 33 years and a former Echo journalist.
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