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‘Inspirational and imaginative’ daily editor dies aged 69

Chris ByeAn “inspirational and imaginative” editor who ran a regional daily for more than a decade has died aged 69.

Tributes have been paid to Chris Bye, who edited the Yorkshire Evening Post between September 1987 and January 1999.

Chris, pictured, had a 29-year career in the regional press before he retired early due to ill-health at the age of 46.

During his time with the YEP, he notably struck a sponsorship deal with Leeds United Football Club, the team he supported, which saw the newspaper’s logo emblazoned on the players’ shirts during their 1991-92 title-winning season.

Former YEP production editor Howard Corry told the Leeds-based daily: “Chris was an innovative, inspirational and imaginative editor who demanded the best from his staff and gave much of himself for the paper he loved.

“He was a larger than life figure in many ways; he led the paper to greater things and masterminded a 12-edition a day campaigning Yorkshire paper that was respected by its readers.

“One of his triumphs – and there were many – was the unforgettable season when Leeds United lost their sponsorship at the last minute.

“Chris persuaded the board to spend the paper’s annual promotional budget and won the deal – for very little. He was right – Leeds won the league that year with Yorkshire Evening Post on their shirts.

“Illness cut his career short but it didn’t stop him writing and campaigning right up to his death. I’ll remember him with affection, admiration and a little awe.”

Leeds United’s chief executive Angus Kinnear has also paid tribute.

He said: “Our thoughts are with Chris’ family, he was clearly one of the unsung heroes from a wonderful time in the club’s history.

“The Yorkshire Evening Post logo on the front of our shirt has a cult status amongst our fans and the partnership represents the community spirit that our city is famous for.

“I’m told that Chris played a pivotal part in creating and maintaining a strong relationship between the fans, the YEP and the club, which is still evident today.”

Chris, who was born near Tadcaster, was a talented footballer who had signed to play York City as a teenager before deciding to focus on a career in journalism.

He started out as a trainee reporter with the Harrogate-based Ackrill weekly newspaper group in 1970 and was appointed deputy editor of the Wetherby News in 1972.

Chris then became a senior reporter on the Bradford Telegraph & Argus before joining the YEP as a 22-year-old reporter in 1974.

He moved to become news editor of the Yorkshire Post and edited its colour magazine, later serving as its deputy editor from 1982 to 1987.

During his subsequent time in charge of the YEP, the paper won national awards including the Howard League Annual Media Award, the Council for Freedom of Information Newspaper Award, The British Press Award for Provincial Journalists of the Year and several national and regional awards for content, design and individual excellence in writing, design and photography.

Neil Hodgkinson was Chris’s deputy at the YEP for four years and succeeded him as editor in January 1999.

Neil, who is now Reach plc marketplace publisher for the North East, Yorkshire & Scottish Regionals, told the paper: “He was a great bloke. He was very generous with his time and he had a good sense of humour.

“I learned a lot from him, it was a thoroughly enjoyable time.”

After his retirement, Chris wrote classical music reviews for the British Music Society along with autobiographical stories for Dalesman magazine.

He also worked as a freelance journalist for several national newspapers and was Great Britain’s correspondent for the South African Sunday Express.

Chris’s widow Annette said: “He had a keen wit and sense of humour, he swam against the tide, a maverick, he stood up to authority, he challenged.

“A true gentleman, erudite, well-read, lover of the arts. He was the most loving, devoted husband.”

Chris, who died on Monday after a short cancer battle, leaves three children from a previous relationship – Simon, Laura and Edward – and grandchildren Alex, Matilda and Alice.

He is also survived by siblings Anthony, Tim and Elizabeth.

A restricted funeral service will be held at All Saints’ Church in Bramham, near Wetherby, from 11am on Tuesday 23 March followed at 12.20pm by a non-attended cremation at Stonefall Cemetery and Crematorium, in Harrogate.