Fond farewells: UK journalists who died in 2022 - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage

Every year we pay tribute to those no longer with us who dedicated a significant part of their careers to regional journalism. Among those to have passed away over the past 12 months were those who spent decades at the very top of the industry, as well as “legendary” editors.

Here, as part of our series looking back on this year, we feature a selection of obituaries that have appeared on HTFP in 2022, along with some of the tributes paid by friends and colleagues. Click on the names to read our original obituaries.

Mark Baynes

Editor of London investigative news website the East End Enquirer. He was 61.

“He was dogged in his journalism – forthright, unreserved, and outspoken.” – Independent Community News Network deputy director Matt Abbott

Mike Bennett

Former editor at the KM Group, in Kent, who died aged 79 after suffering a triple heart attack while getting off a bus in France.

“He was an absolute gentleman who was always thoughtful and caring.” – Ashford Borough Council leader Gerry Clarkson

Kevin Booth

Editor who ran York daily The Press, the Peterborough Telegraph, Burton Mail and Leicester Mercury over the course of a career spanning four decades. He was 64.

“Kev was an excellent journalist and a fantastic colleague. His news sense and his professionalism were second to none.” – Former Stoke Sentinel and Nottingham Post editor Mike Sassi

Colin Brannigan

Editor of Sheffield daily The Star from 1968 to 1978 who was awarded the OBE for services to journalism. He was 84.

“He was the sort of editor all young and aspiring reporters needed – full of praise when you did things right, and straight talking but still supportive when you got things wrong.” – Former Star editor Alan Powell

Jack Calvert

Worked for Scottish Provincial Press and the Aberdeen Evening Express during his career, before joining the police. He died of bowel cancer aged 32.

“Jack was such a fit and healthy and conscientious lad, always so polite and dependable and well turned out, a keen and quick learner, and so well-liked by everyone – a pleasure to work with.” – Former SPP colleague Alan Hendry

David Campbell

MD of Scottish and Universal Newspapers from 1974 to 1984, who later went on to run West Independent Newspapers. He was 78.

“He moved a major Scottish newspaper publishing house from the Stone Age – in more ways than one – into the 21st century.” – David’s friend Tony Meehan

Carol Davies

Editor who ran the Canterbury Adscene, Whitstable Times, Herne Bay Times and Thanet Extra during her career. She died from cancer aged 73.

“Carol was a great, passionate editor with a real love of life.” – Iliffe Media editorial director Ian Carter

Tim Cornwell

Former journalist for The Scotsman and the Hull Daily Mail. He died suddenly aged 59 after completing work on editing the letters of his famous father, spy novelist John Le Carre.

“Although in his later years Tim wrestled with the realities of bipolar life, he never let this define him.” – The Scotsman’s David Robinson

Sean Dooley

Editor who ran the Gloucestershire Echo and Stoke-on-Trent daily The Sentinel during his career. He also chaired the NCTJ’s quality assurance and standards committee until his death aged 79.

“A long-serving and highly-respected editor, Sean inspired so many young regional newspaper reporters and supported them in their careers.” – NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher

Eddie Duller

Editor who ran the Uxbridge Gazette and later the Oxford Mail from 1985 until 1994. He was 86.

“I found him down to earth, kind, and with a real sense of fun. He welcomed new projects and ideas and was very astute, seeing the advantages of the new technology early on.” – Barbara Fisher, who worked with Eddie on the Gazette

Stephen Firth

Former editor of the Brighouse Echo. He was 68.

“He was a model colleague and a very enthusiastic and accomplished journalist. Stephen’s guiding principles were accuracy, integrity and fairness and he rigorously applied these throughout his career.” – Former Halifax Courier editor Edward Riley

Jim Fitzpatrick

Chairman and former managing editor of the Irish News, which he helped to run for more than half a century. He was 92.

“A giant of the newspaper industry as well as a key figure in the search for peace and reconciliation in Ireland who also had significant roles in law, business and the arts.” – Noel Doran, editor of the News

Jim Flanagan

Editor who ran Belfast’s Sunday Life between 2005 and 2009, then the Ballymena Guardian until his retirement in 2017. He died suddenly aged 61.

“Jim was incredibly well respected and well-liked by everyone who knew him in his long career in journalism.” – Former Press Association Ireland editor Deric Henderson

Donald Fullarton

Served as editorial director of the Clyde and Forth Press and was awarded the MBE for services to journalism.

“Few journalists will leave such a lasting imprint on the Scottish regional press as Donald Fullarton.” – Bill Livingstone, a former chairman of the Society of Editors in Scotland and a long-time Clyde and Forth Press colleague

Brett Gibbons

Regional content editor at Reach plc based in Birmingham. He died unexpectedly aged 64.

“Brett worked for me in three different roles, and was always someone I could rely on. He was capable of being very fast and very accurate, and had a fantastic work ethic.” – Birmingham Mail editor Graeme Brown

Martin Heal

Editor who spent his entire career with the Western Gazette. He was 76.

“He was an excellent editor and, beyond that, a principled, fair and kind man who gave and earned respect in equal measure.” – Bede McGowan, who was a trainee reporter at the Gazette under Martin.

Reg Herbert

Editor who ran North Wales daily The Leader and later became editor in chief for the whole North Wales Newspaper Group.

“He was a great editor who knew instinctively what readers wanted in their paper every night.” – Former Leader editor-in-chief Barrie Jones

Martin Hovden

The first editor of the Wirral Globe who later ran now-defunct Southport weekly The Champion. He was 70.

“Martin was an incredibly professional and diligent journalist who was in no way averse to challenging anyone in pursuit of a news story.” – Former Champion colleague Ollie Cowan

Freddy Johnston

The last member of his family to sit on the board of Johnston Press. He was 86.

“Proudly leading the business which had been in the family over 200 years, Freddy was a mainstay of the Scottish weekly press for decades.” – Scottish Newspaper Society director John McLellan

David Kernek/Flintham

Edited the Bath Evening Chronicle, Brighton Evening Argus, Yorkshire Evening Press and the Northern Echo during his career. He was 74.

“He had the highest standards when it came to the use of English and never wasted a word.” – Former Echo editor Peter Barron, who served as David’s deputy

Marie King

Journalist who worked on the Manchester Evening News before moving into PR. She died aged 39 after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.

“Marie was so special to us, central to our close-knit family and she valued family above all else.” – Chris and Mary Burchill, Marie’s parents

Mike Lowe

Editor who ran Gloucester daily The Citizen, the Derby Telegraph and the Bristol Post during his career. He was 68.

“A brilliant editor who could spot a story a mile off and then using his creative genius and magical way with words, design brilliant pages with an amazing headline.” – Richard Bowyer, former editor of The Sentinel who worked with Mike in Derby.

Ian McCormack

Editor who was the longest-serving in the UK at the time of his retirement. He was 74.

“Ian, who retired in January 2020, made an immeasurable contribution to his community and to Scottish journalism as editor of the paper for 44 of its 50 years.” – Former WHFP colleagues in a joint statement.

Richard Moore

Sports journalist who was a regular contributor to The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday for two decades. He was 48.

“He was always on hand to turn round copy quickly and he could be relied upon to do so immaculately.” – Long-serving Scotsman sportswriter and good friend Alan Pattullo

Tony Pyatt

Edited the Ipswich Star between 1965 and his retirement in 1978, when he continued to work for the National Council for the Training of Journalists. He was 105.

“He was a very fine journalist. He would never be compromised.” – Tony’s son Andrew

Tom Richmond

Journalist who was working as the Yorkshire Post’s opinion editor at the time of his death. He was 52.

“Tom was a formidable journalist; a ferocious inquisitor; a tenacious talent determined to make a difference and yet, for all of those traits he went about his journalism with a deft touch.” – Post editor James Mitchinson

Fiona Steggles

University of Central Lancashire journalism trainer. She died of coroanvirus aged 52.

“Fiona was quite simply the most wonderful human being in the world, who had such a positive impact on all those she came into contact with, who loved to laugh and had an amazing smile.” – Fiona’s husband, BBC Radio Lancashire and Radio Cumbria managing editor Mark Elliott

Fond farewells: Remembering the journalists we lost in 2022