Former deputy editor, news editor, women’s page editor and chief reporter of the Ellesmere Port Pioneer Beryl Taylor has died aged 78.

In a tribute daughter Jeanette Starkey told the Pioneer: “Beryl was born in Stoke Road, Ellesmere Port to Clarice and Frederick Taylor. In August 1956 she married David Wright, a printer who also worked at the Pioneer and later its sister paper The Observer.

“She attended Cambridge Road School and later achieved a scholarship for Wirral Grammar School for Girls.

“When Beryl was four, her father died in a work related accident and Clarice went on to marry Thomas Henry and had a daughter, Denise. At nine years old, tragedy struck Beryl again when her mum died, leaving Beryl as a carer for her younger sister.

“Naturally gifted and talented and recognised as such by her teachers Beryl became determined that she would succeed in life. She always wanted to be a journalist and contributed frequently to her school’s magazine.

Male dominated domain

“Unfortunately circumstances dictated that Beryl was unable to study through to sixth form and university. She left Wirral Grammar with a string of ‘O’ levels and decided to apply for a job at the Pioneer, at the time a very much male dominated domain.

“Beryl began in the printing department but also ran errands and kept asking Albert Thorneycroft, the paper’s editor, to give her a chance writing.

“Eventually through Beryl’s persistence Mr Thorneycroft, recognising her determination, offered her a story to cover and then immediately made room for her. She worked her way up to become his deputy editor and news editor.

“The Manchester Guardian offered Beryl, without interview, her own page. She was very tempted but having a young family and knowing how little time she would be able to spend with them decided to turn down the opportunity and stay in Ellesmere Port.

National press contact

“The job was eventually given to Jean Rook, who later went to the Daily Express. Beryl, did however, become the main contact in Cheshire for the national press and also for the Press Association.

“Beryl trained many reporters who started at the Pioneer, many of whom eventually left for national media and many who stayed in local publications.

“These included June Kelly, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent, Tim Rogers at ITN, Rod Holmes, Television South West, Ivor Godfrey-Davies, one of the original reporters on Marcher Sound Radio, Tom Dowling, who has his own publication, ‘All Together Now’, Gil Lightfoot, Chester Standard, her own daughter, Gaynor Kenyon, who now works for United Utilities as Group Director of Communications and many more too numerous to mention.

“When Albert Thorneycroft retired, Beryl was offered the promotion of editor but again she decided to turn down the offer as she wanted to continue grass roots reporting and generously training ‘cub’ reporters.

Party neutral

“She was respected by the public, industry, business and political figures. Every election she allocated a reporter to each political party to shadow them and report for the Pioneer on their campaigns. Beryl remained so completely party neutral that every party wanted her to be their shadow.

“Along with Mr Thorneycroft and various businessmen, Beryl was a founder of the Ellesmere Port and Neston Talking Newspaper and was integral with the annual local beauty contest, Miss Ellesmere Port. She helped raise money for charities, including the YMCA, Boys’ Club and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.

“In 1989, Beryl decided to leave the Pioneer and expand her own press and public relations agency in collaboration with her daughter, Jeanette and her son-in-law, Jonathan.

“Beryl reinforced her position as the main freelance journalist in Cheshire and covered many stories for the national press television and radio.

"The PR side handled many accounts including Katie Boyle, the Port Arcades and writing and producing ’The Port Arcades Journal’. She wrote and published a newspaper for Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council called, ‘The Netherpool Journal’ when the town celebrated its 200th birthday.

"Along with her son-in-law Jonathan, she also negotiated music deals with the world’s largest publishers, EMI, Chappell and, later, Universal.

“Beryl is survived by her husband David, four daughters, eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.”

Mr Wright himself became an apprentice printer with the Pioneer at the age of 15 only four days after leaving the Grange School.

He remained with the company until 1973 when he started his own printing business based in Victoria Road.

The funeral is to take place on Friday, January 22, 2016 at St Lawrence’s Church, Stoak at 1.30pm, followed by cremation at Blacon.