Tributes to Shropshire journalist Gordon Riley
Monday 9th August 2010, 10:43AM BST.
One of Shropshire’s best known and most respected journalists has died at the age of 88.
Gordon Riley passed away on Saturday following a long illness.
Mr Riley, who was from Shrewsbury, began his career at the age of 15 on the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News.
He became the chief reporter and together with his colleague Russell Mulford, who was the chief reporter for the Shrewsbury Chronicle’s Wrekin edition, they covered the news in the Wrekin area throughout the 1950s. Mr Mulford said: “He was the most prominent journalist in Shropshire in the post-war years and used to cover the six local authorities of the time.”
Mr Mulford said Mr Riley was so well thought of that if he was running late for a council meeting the councillors would delay the start for him. He also covered Wellington Town Football Club.
“They were very exciting times as together we covered all the major stories in Shropshire,” he said.
“He was a very talented journalist.”
In 1964 Mr Riley became the launch news editor for the Shropshire Star. He also worked as the chief information officer for the Telford Development Corporation before he retired. He then worked as a freelance writer and did the publicity for a number of county charities.
His wife Freda died last year.
Claire Riley-Walshe, Mr Riley’s daughter, said: “He was a true gentleman, a very proud man and a great dad. He taught me a lot.”
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