A rare classroom pic . . .
. . . AND A GUESS AT THE NAMES
Mike Davies (ex North- ampton Chronicle and Echo, Scarborough, Birmingham, Oxford and Bedfordhire) says: 'I could be wrong, but my hazy recollection of people's rear views from more than 20 years ago is (L to R) Kate Atkins (then North- ampton); Heather Clark (then Leicester); Steve Hall (now Derby Tele- graph editor); Jayne ??? (Sutton-in-Ashfield); next - don't know, but nice sweater!; Dominic Kennedy (last heard of on The Times); me (though my hair looks a bit long); unknown female; Malcolm ??? (then Redditch, later BBC Radio WM.
These are educated guesses - but it might not be my class at all!'
Taken for a college brochure, this is - as far as I'm aware - the only photograph that still exists of a journalism session at Richmond. I can name only one person in the picture - that's me at the front solemnly telling a block-release group what I think of the interview performance we've just watched on the screen.
The shot was taken by one R.Standring in October 1984. (If he sees this he'll probably want paying.) Perhaps someone who was there at that time will be able to identify the trainees. I hope so.
This was no one-man band
Though these have to be personal memoirs, I mustn't give the impression that I was working single-handed. This was a team effort involving four or five journalists who had decided to go into the full-time training business.
People came and went during my time at Richmond, but my main colleagues were Ron Eyley, Frank Littlewood, Lyn Cooke, Peter Collins and Geoff Bull. They had all spent years on newspapers, and in addition to their general expertise they each brought with them enthusiasm for a particular aspect of the job - the courts, local government, features, story-spotting, interviewing, sport, the theatre, design and layout. (For good measure, Ron was a shorthand whizz-kid!)
We were - dare I say it? - a pretty good team.
In case anyone cares . . .
I am one of the old school of newspapermen - gained a good School Certificate at Urmston Grammar School (Manchester) and left in 1950, busting to be a reporter.
Warrington Guardian (interrupted by R.A.F. service), Manchester City News, Matlock Mercury, sub on the Newark Advertiser, back to Matlock as editor, Peak District man on the Derbyshire Times. And I play jazz piano (that's got nothing to do with this but it might interest a kindred spirit somewhere).
If you want to drop me a line, see the addresses on the
Letters Page
