Tributes paid to former Stamford Mercury reporter Brian Gibbons
Tributes have been paid to a former Mercury reporter who ‘had an incredible ability to sniff out a story’.
Brian Gibbons worked at the Mercury between 1954 and 1967, writing stories revealing that the fascist movement led by Oswald Moseley was based at a house in St Martin’s in Stamford during the 1930s, to covering village fêtes and writing tributes to people who had died.
Brian, who was born in Castor to a family that supplied agricultural machinery and traction engines, became ‘Stamford through and through’ by living and working in the town for most of his life.
According to his former Mercury colleague, Bob Feetham, Brian had been determined to become a reporter, having passed the 11+ to attend Kings School in Peterborough.
“He won an essay competition in his final year at Kings and went to the Mercury to ask for a job as a junior reporter,” said Bob.
“The then editor told him he would ‘never make it’ and so Brian went to the rather imposing home of the Mercury’s owner, Pat Winfrey, in Castor.
“He was the top man and everyone was terrified of him but Brian was incensed and determined to know why he had been turned down.
“He came away with a six-month trial as a junior reporter.”
That sort of determination was key to Brian’s success as a journalist, according to Bob, who still lives locally.
“He became chief reporter almost immediately and I remember he had an incredible ability to sniff out a story. He found some really good leads and he never let go.”
Brian’s younger sister, Cheryl Buckley, who lives in Barnack Road, Stamford, said her brother was called up for his two years’ National Service during his time at the Mercury - which included being posted to Cyprus and visiting the Holy Land to report on the Cypriot president’s visit.
She remembers him writing airmail letters to their mother, which she would receive with excitement and read out loud.
He returned to the newspaper, and to watching local football, being a keen supporter of Stamford Rovers and later The Daniels, which will hold a minute’s silence ahead of tomorow’s pre-season friendly against Cleethorpes, and Peterborough United.
Brian’s career in journalism and love of gardening took him to work on the Emap title Garden News, a newspaper that sold 170,000 copies a week.
He became editor of Garden Trade News, a magazine aimed at people in the gardening business, and even wrote books about gardening.
Brian, who was a father and grandfather, remained in journalism until 1992. Following ill-health he moved to Peterborough with his wife, Elizabeth, and died peacefully on July 9, aged
84.
A funeral was held on Tuesday at Peterborough Crematorium.
