Popular Midlands reporter Gordon Riley dies

One of The Midlands' most well known and respected journalists has died at the age of 88.

Gordon Riley, from Shrewsbury, passed away on Saturday after a long illness.

Mr Riley began his career at the age of 15 on the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News.

He became the chief reporter and together with his colleague Russell Mulford, who was the chief reporter for the Shrewsbury Chronicle's Wrekin edition, they covered the news in the Wrekin area in the 1950s.

Mr Mulford said: "He was the most prominent journalist in Shropshire in the post-war years and used to cover the six local authorities of the time."

Mr Mulford said Mr Riley was so well thought of that if he was running late for a council meeting the councillors would delay the start for him. He also covered Wellington Town Football Club.

"They were very exciting times as together we covered all the major stories in Shropshire. He was a very talented journalist," he said.

In 1964 Mr Riley became the launch news editor for the Shropshire Star, the Telford-based sister paper of the Express & Star.

He also worked as the chief information officer for the Telford Development Corporation before he retired. He then worked as a freelance writer. His wife Freda died last year.