A journalist responsible for helping a weekly newspaper win national awards due to her oversight of its children’s page has died aged 73.

Caroline Rippier spent 12 years with the Salisbury Journal, during which time she was tasked with revamping its Journal Gang page for younger readers.

Caroline, pictured, later underwent formal journalism training while working on the Journal, covering news for the paper.

She had fought cancer since 2018, and died in Salisbury Hospice.

An obituary in the Journal reads: “She joined the newspaper’s editorial team in 1990 to take over and revamp the children’s page when it switched from the Salisbury Times into the Journal and proved extraordinarily successful.

“Membership of the restyled Journal Gang grew into the thousands and the page was actually highlighted out as one of the major factors when the newspaper won national awards during the 1990s.

“During more than 12 years on the newspaper, she also successfully underwent formal journalism training and became a valued member of the news team, covering a wide range of topics.

“After leaving the Journal, she worked in a freelance role for various publications.”

Caroline was born in London and moved to Ford, near Salisbury, after marrying chartered quantity surveyor Edward.

The couple lived for some time in Frankfurt, where their first son Jonathan was born, while their second son Oliver was born in Salisbury in 1981.

In line with her wishes, the funeral is to be a private affair for family only.

Donations in her memory may be made to Salisbury Hospice.

Friends and former colleagues are invited to attend a reception and thanksgiving gathering to be held at Sarum College in The Close, Salisbury, from 4.30pm on Friday 14 February.