NOEL RICHLEY
7/04/2008
Noel Richley MBE, who was treasurer of the Newspaper Press Fund for 26 years , has died aged 96. A former chief news editor of the Press Association, he joined the NPF(now the Journalists' Charity) in 1940, while working for the Daily Herald in Manchester.
In 1947 he moved to PA in London after five years service with the Royal Navy during World War II as a Gunnery Officer. One of his first jobs in journalism was on the Bury Times in Lancashire near his birthplace, Bamford, near Rochdale. He went on to join the Daily Mirror in Manchester and then the Daily Herald. After demobilisation, he returned to the Herald before joining PA following his marriage . He spent five years as naval correspondent before moving on to the news desk and rising to chief news editor until his retirement in 1975. He had a long interest in the work of the Newspaper Press Fund, and was the fund's treasurer until the age of 94. He was honoured with an MBE for his services to the fund.
Former Charity chairman Robert Warren said: "Noel was an exceptionally kind and gentle man. While keeping a firm grip on the npf's finances he was full of compassion and made a lasting contribution to the work of the charity as a member of the council since 1955." He leaves his widow, Ursula (Sue), and one son and two daughters.
Donations to the Journalists' Charity in memory of Noel are welcome.