Farewell to dedicated journalist
I was saddened this week to be told of the death of Mark Gale, a journalist on the Mid Sussex Times for around 60 years, writes Paul Watson.
The industry will not see the likes of Mark again.
It sounds like a cliché but it is true. For a person to serve one local newspaper for such a length of time is extraordinary. In these more mobile times and in the future, journalists are much more likely to have twenty different employers than one.
Mark was dedicated to the Middy. The paper’s editors over the years – including me – had much to be thankful for.
Loyal, dedicated, hard-working, helpful, a jolly nice chap – that was Mark.
But his writing took him into an altogether different league.
The quality of his columns, music reviews, theatre crits were top drawer and would not have been out of place published in a national newspaper.
Yes, Mark sold newspapers. People wanted to read what he wrote. For many years his Talking Points amused and challenged the people of Mid Sussex each Thursday morning.
He did not write in a splenetic way – his columns were crafted. Mark delivered telling rapier cuts instead of an axe being swung wildly around.
His reviews of shows, musicals and the theatre were the work of legend in Mid Sussex.
More than once he incurred the wrath of am dram societies with less than complimentary reviews.
Editors know that such reviews will always attract outrage. You fear the worst when you find a callow youth has panned the local operatic society’s offering.
I never worried with Mark’s reviews – he had the knowledge and the experience to know what was good, what was all right and what was down right bad.
One society, I recall him telling me, used to regularly present him with a kipper during their panto – he’d upset them some years before and eventually it became a running joke.
Mark was good company in the office and good company out of it. After he retired we more than once enjoyed a fine lunch with some equally fine red wine. Again, he knew his stuff.
The Table Talk column – a restaurant review – was always a good read.
Being advertising backed, Mark had a useful system to indicate to readers – many of whom knew the code – whether the place was up to the mark or not.
Good places: You would read all about the food. Not so good: A very interesting read about the premises, history, nice views but not so much about the food.
Farewell Mark, I’m glad I knew you.
News of his death follows that of another old-time journalist who I remember from my youth.
As an editorial training officer I used to visit the company’s newspapers in West Suffolk and there met Alan Crumpton.
He too was a legend. A bit grumpy at times, scratchy but boy did he know his stuff.
Alan brought a passion to his work – a passion that many would-be journalists of today would be wise to emulate.
Obituary reports:
Alan Crumpton: http://bit.ly/4y0mBR
Mark Gale: http://bit.ly/67y0hx
(Added to site Friday, January 22nd, 2010)
