ERIC READS THE ECHO
ComedianEric Morecambe was pictured on the front page of Press Gazette reading the Watford Evening Echo, along with editor Ivor Lewis (centre), and Evening Standard columnist Lord Arran.
BUREAUCRACY STRANGLES PRESS
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Newspapers were being increasingly subjected to the menacing coils of bureaucrats and politicians who “hate their guts”, the managing director of Lancashire and Cheshire County Newspapers claimed. Reginald Gerrie said: “We have punitive libel laws, gross abuse of the Official Secrets Act, contempt of court proceedings, trivial invocation of parliamentary privilege, closed door tribunals and quasi inquiries, rubber-stamped local government affairs, and on top of all that we are subject to the ordinary civil laws of the country.”
He told Stockport Junior Chamber of Commerce: “Every new restriction on the press is a restriction on the public.”
DAILY EXPRESS IS ALL AT SEA
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Three months’ planning for a Daily Express “sea task force” paid off with an exclusive splash picture on the homecoming of solo round-theworld yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston. The Express team weathered gales, snow squalls, hail, rain and fog in their chartered boat, Queen of the Isles. They were first to find Knox-Johnston and shepherded him until he crossed the finishing line at Falmouth. Just before the finish, KnoxJohnston signalled: “Thank you very, very much for your company and guardship. You’ve been a most tender nanny.” Pictured on the front of PG, with Knox-Johnston’s Suhaili in the background, were Express photographer Harry Dempster and the crew of Queen of the Isles. Behind them are photographer Stanley Meagher, reporter Michael Dove, reporter Michael Steemson, Evening Standard photographer Jim Jackson and reporter Michael Charleston.
SCOUTS TAKE OVER NEWS AGENCY
Two scouts out “bob-a-jobbing” were left in charge at the office of Southport news agency Norwest News and Photos when reporter Roger Ward and photographer Harry Ormesher were called out. Ward said: “When we came back they had taken several messages very efficiently, though they had spent most of their time hunting out old football programmes. Naturally I paid them NUJ rates.”
GALE BLOWS OUT OF DAILY MIRROR
Acerbic columnist George Gale was leaving the Daily Mirror. Editor LA Lee Howard said: “The decision has been a difficult one, but those of us who are concerned with the long-term development of the Mirror felt George Gale’s column did not fit the paper as we envisaged it. It would not have been reasonable to endeavour to persuade George Gale to change his style or approach. I have the greatest respect for his writing and for his integrity.”
MAIL LAUNCHES TRANSATL ANTIC RACE
In a double-page spread in Press Gazette, the Daily Mail announced “the world’s greatest air race”. It started on the 33rd floor of London’s Post Office Tower and ended on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York. The race was to commemorate the first non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in 1919 by Alcock and Brown, who won a £10,000 prize offered by Lord Northcliffe. This time the prize money was £60,000. The race attracted 400 entrants, including racing driver Stirling Moss, athlete Mary Rand and Prince Michael of Kent. The ad in Press Gazette promised “dozens of exciting stories and action pictures” during the race.
SCULLY AND RIPPON ON PANEL
The BBC’s Hugh Scully and Westward TV’s Angela Rippon were among the judges of the Press and TV “Queen of the West” contest, held as part of the Plymouth Press Ball.
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