A regional daily journalist who fought to raise awareness of the cancer she suffered from has died aged 67.

Tributes have been paid to Marion Brennan, who spent 32 years with Wolverhampton’s Express & Star.

Marion, pictured, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 and used her platform as a journalist to highlight symptoms to readers and diarise her own treatment.

She was subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumour, which was removed in autumn 2021, but last year more lesions were discovered and she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

According to the Express & Star, her health deteriorated further at the start of this year as the cancer spread and she died peacefully on 16 March, surrounded by her family.

Ken Tudor, former E&S chief reporter for Sandwell, told the newspaper: “Marion was a journalists’ journalist who could write the real hard news for the front page or turn out a beautifully-crafted feature on anything under the sun.

“I saw at first hand for over 30 years how she was comfortable with people of all parts of society – at royal visits, political gatherings, picket lines or at protest marches.

“At work everyone who worked alongside her adored her. She inspired so many young journalists, particularly women, to embrace the profession and to always be fair to everyone they dealt with and she had a sharp eye for grammatical errors when she peered over your shoulder at your story.

“Since her passing I have been inundated with messages from former colleagues, many of them in top jobs, expressing their sorrow and despair, but remembering through their tears, with much love her joyful attitude to life and the vital assistance she gave to them.

“Marion loved her job at the Express & Star because it gave her the chance to do so many different things and at times to help people having problems with authorities. She pursued their grievances and was a stickler for getting a proper response to her queries.

“However, no matter how much she enjoyed our work and company, I know her warm and friendly and amazingly supportive family came first, and she talked incessantly about her siblings and her nieces and nephews. She was so very special to us all.”

Marion studied journalism at the London College of Printing in 1975 and her first job was on the Bracknell News, before returning to her native West Midlands in 1980 to start work at the Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Mail.

In 1988, she joined the Express & Star and during her time on the paper she worked in features and news.

Veteran E&S columnist Peter Rhodes said: “In the vast head-office newsroom of the Express &Star, you always knew where Marion was. Just follow the laughter.

“Marion and I were friends and colleagues for more than 40 years. In all that time, in a notoriously competitive profession, I never heard a single word against her, nor had a conversation with her that did not quickly turn to laughter.

“She was one of those blessed people who found humour in almost everything, and never took herself too seriously.

“She loved the job and she loved office life. From reporting, Marion graduated to feature writing.

“She was a perfectionist, bringing passion, perception and a great personal touch to everything she wrote. A lovely lady, taken far too soon.”

Editor-in-chief Martin Wright added: “Marion was a first-class journalist and was very passionate about every story she worked on. Her writing style was second to none and younger reporters looked up to her as she offered huge encouragement and inspiration.

“She will be greatly missed by us all and our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”

Marion is survived by sisters Geraldine and Bernie, brother Des, four nieces, two nephews and eight great-nieces and five great-nephews.

Her funeral will be held at 10am tomorrow at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Trittiford Road, Yardley Wood, Birmingham, followed by a wake at the church social club.

Donations in her memory will be shared between ovarian cancer charity Ovacome and Cancer Research UK.