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‘Outstanding’ former daily assistant editor dies aged 87

John MortonAn “outstanding” journalist who became assistant editor of the regional daily where he spent his entire career has died aged 87.

Tributes have been paid to John Morton, who was also chief sub-editor during his time with the Grimsby Telegraph.

John, pictured, put together an estimated 5,000 front pages of the Telegraph during a career spanning more than four decades.

An obituary by the Telegraph said that, as chief sub, his “skills came to the fore”.

It stated: “He and his team of sub-editors would daily assess the value of each news item and decide how it should be presented.

“When major events broke, it involved working at speed and against demanding deadlines.

“Such occasions included the Telegraph’s famous 1993 world scoop when it broke the story of Grimsby-born Norman Lamont’s resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer and the night circus lions broke loose in the town.”

Cleethorpes-born John had intended to enter teacher training at university, but changed his mind when a friend told him how much he was enjoying life as a journalist in Lincoln.

He was taken on by the Telegraph in 1951 as a trainee reporter at the equivalent of £1.50 a week.

Rod Howson, who worked in both the composing room and editorial departments at the Telegraph, told the paper John was “not just a fine journalist but would go out of his way to help colleagues experiencing personal difficulties”.

The obituary added: “As an ardent royalist, there was no prouder man in the building when John met Princess Anne at the opening of the Telegraph’s new £2 million offices in 1976.

“More than two decades later he would represent the Telegraph on a sadder royal occasion – the funeral of Princess Diana in Westminster Abbey.

“By coincidence, covering the event outside the Abbey was his daughter Helen, now Helen Fospero, a reporter and presenter with Sky Television News who later furthered her career with GMTV and the BBC.

“He was promoted to assistant editor in 1981 which called for a more supervisory role at the paper.

“John loved the theatre and frequently reviewed shows, both amateur and professional, on both sides of the Humber.”

John is survived by wife Ann, with whom he was due to celebrate his diamond wedding anniversary this summer, children Helen and Chris, and grandchildren Charlotte, Francesca and Jack.

His funeral service will be held at Grimsby Minster on 6 May from 11.15am.