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Long-serving sports editor who was also keen cyclist dies aged 92

A former regional daily sports editor who was also an enthusiastic cyclist has died aged 92.

Burt Morris was sports editor of the Shropshire Star for nearly 20 years before retiring in 1991.

Burt had also served as sports editor of the now-defunct Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News during the course of 46 years in the newspaper industry.

He died on January 19 at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

Burt, left, with Last of the Summer Wine Cycling Group members in 2006.

Burt, left, with Last of the Summer Wine Cycling Group members in 2006.

As well as reporting on the local sporting scene, he was an enthusiastic cyclist and a huge fan of Wellington Town FC which later became Telford United.

A journalist to the last, Burt had prepared his own pithy obituary some time ago which was published in the Express & Star last week.

The sections recounting his career read: “Joined the old Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News from Wellington Grammar School in 1946. National Service in RAF 1950 and 1951 and afterwards returned to Journal where he was made sports editor in 1961.

“Moved to Shropshire Star when it took over Journal in 1965 and was sports editor for nearly 20 years from the mid-seventies. Retired in 1991 after 46 years in the industry.”

Burt married “one love of his life” Josie Smith in 1955 and they had three children and four grandchildren.  Josie died in 2018 after 63 years together.

He signed off his self-penned obituary with the words: “That’s all folks. It’s been nice.”