A FORMER editor of the Barnsley Chronicle who has served the paper for more than 70 years has died, aged 87.

Don Booker, of Monk Bretton, editor from 1986 to 1994, died on Monday.

Don originally joined the Chronicle’s advertising department in 1947 before switching to the newsroom, rising through the ranks to become editor.

In retirement, he continued as motoring correspondent and also carried on writing the weekly Monk Bretton district news.

During the 1950s, he met Michael Parkinson, then a reporter on the South Yorkshire Times. The rivals worked closely and Sir Michael would ride pillion on Don’s motorbike when they went looking for stories.

Sir Michael told the Chronicle: “We were competitors but also friends and, most important of all, he had a motorbike so I was his pillion passenger clinging on for dear life until I went in the army to do National Service, which was an experience not half as dangerous as being Don’s pillion passenger. We kept in touch over the years and I had his friendship and his help whenever I came north from London or across from Manchester during my time at the Daily Express and the Manchester Guardian.

“He made a typically humorous and good-natured appearance on my This Is Your Life and, throughout our relationship, was a reliable friend and a good natured mate.

“He was also a very good journalist indeed who deeply cared for the reputation of his paper and his job and took it very seriously without ever losing his sense of humour.

“When I think back on the people who enhanced my career, I see Don as a significant figure and I shall be forever grateful for his friendship and example.”

During Don’s editorship, the Chronicle became the fourth biggest-selling weekly paper in the country.

Under his leadership the newspaper campaigned to raise money to get Barnsley Hospice built and Don helped to raise money for keyhole surgery equipment for Barnsley hospital. He was also the Chronicle’s award-winning motoring correspondent. He was the first weekly newspaper journalist to be elected as associate member of the International Guild of Motoring Writers and in 1981, he won the Michelin Travel award, Britain’s top motoring writers’ prize.

Don was born in 1931 in Dodworth and moved to Burton Road, Old Mill, when he was three. He was educated at Burton Road Primary School, Raley School and Barnsley Technical School (later the College of Technology).

He was associated with scouting for many years and was leader in various capacities with the 39th Barnsley (Monk Bretton) Air Scouts. He won awards for his services to the movement.

In his youth, Don was a percussionist with the dance band ‘Geoff Haigh and the Syncopators’. When lugging his drum kit to venues became a problem, he turned to the trumpet.

Don was made an MBE for his services to journalism and the town of Barnsley in 1995, and was named a Millennium Hero for his public service in 2000.

He was churchwarden in his parish of Monk Bretton for 42 years and also served as a magistate.

Away from work, Don was a keen golfer and was the proud owner of a Morgan Plus Four car. In 2000, he wrote his autobiography ‘A Barnsley Lad’ in which he said: “I could not have had a more wonderful life, even if I had left my much-loved Barnsley.”

The funeral will be held on Friday September 28 at 1.30pm in St Paul’s Church, Monk Bretton.