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Weekly court reporter who also served as agony aunt dies aged 89

Kath ParkinA weekly newspaper journalist who held roles as diverse as court reporter and agony aunt has died aged 89.

Tributes have been paid to Kath Baskett, better known as Kath Parkin, who worked on and off for the Barnsley Chronicle over the course of half a century.

Kath, pictured was best known at the Chronicle for her coverage of court cases from the magistrates’ court and her ‘Memories’ stories.

She also had an agony aunt column at one point and was also occasionally employed as a sports reporter.

Her sister Brenda Garnett told the Chronicle: “She loved every aspect of working at the newspaper. She absolutely loved it at the Chronicle. She even met her second husband, Bill, through her memories column.

“She was football-mad and had been looking forward to watching the Lionesses this week. She had been poorly a long time.

“We had great fun when we were younger. There was lots of laughter and there is a great sense of humour in our family. I will miss her dearly.”

London-born Kath moved to Barnsley as an evacuee during the Second World War. She was married twice and leaves behind widower Bill following her death last Tuesday.

Kath, who will be buried with her first husband Neville, is also survived by children Nicholas and Elizabeth and grandchildren Louise and Thomas.