My final farewell to a wonderful grandfather

The news of my grandfather’s death was a shock but after 10 minutes sitting quietly in Tony’s office I had composed myself. He had given me that time to let it sink in before returning. I told him I needed to call my parents to find out the arrangements for the funeral and said IContinue reading “My final farewell to a wonderful grandfather”

Death comes too close for comfort

Dealing with death becomes a part of life for many journalists, especially those working on regional dailies or weeklies when the people involved are part of their community. Whether it is a case of natural death, by old age or a long-term illness, or sudden death by accident or design (a house fire or fallContinue reading “Death comes too close for comfort”

Mea culpa – mea maxima culpa

Sorry I didn’t get back to the tale of our young reporter on his big adventure in Essex but a few things happened before I got round to it which made me think carefully about friendship, something I have talked about before. Friendship is important. We begin making friends when we are very young andContinue reading “Mea culpa – mea maxima culpa”

Kissing frogs is a job for a princess

A princess who wants to find her prince will have to kiss a lot of frogs during the search. A young reporter seeking a page one byline will have to type up a lot of funeral and wedding reports on the way. The late 60s was still a time when weekly newspapers were considered aContinue reading “Kissing frogs is a job for a princess”

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

by Emily Dickinson I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro Kept treading – treading – till it seemed That Sense was Breaking Through – And when they all were seated A Service like a Drum – Kept beating – beating – till I thought My Mind was going numb –Continue reading “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”