• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

    Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

    Eden man shares his memories of VE Day, 1945

    Eden man shares his memories of VE Day, 1945

    Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

    Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

    Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

    Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

    Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

    Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

    Couple giving new life to outdoors kit in Penrith

    Couple giving new life to outdoors kit in Penrith

    Fears Tebay to be ‘cut off like an island’ during months of bridge works

    Fears Tebay to be ‘cut off like an island’ during months of bridge works

    Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden

    Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden

    Lake District community saves village shop

    Lake District community saves village shop

  • Sport
    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Dedicated Eden football volunteer wins major award

    Dedicated Eden football volunteer wins major award

    10-year-old footballer Casper Ostrowski snapped up by Morecambe

    10-year-old footballer Casper Ostrowski snapped up by Morecambe

    Kirkby Stephen U18s win bronze at national hockey championships

    Kirkby Stephen U18s win bronze at national hockey championships

    Penrith swimmer inducted into Cumbria hall of fame

    Penrith swimmer inducted into Cumbria hall of fame

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

    Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

    Eden man shares his memories of VE Day, 1945

    Eden man shares his memories of VE Day, 1945

    Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

    Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

    Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

    Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

    Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

    Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

    Couple giving new life to outdoors kit in Penrith

    Couple giving new life to outdoors kit in Penrith

    Fears Tebay to be ‘cut off like an island’ during months of bridge works

    Fears Tebay to be ‘cut off like an island’ during months of bridge works

    Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden

    Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden

    Lake District community saves village shop

    Lake District community saves village shop

  • Sport
    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Dedicated Eden football volunteer wins major award

    Dedicated Eden football volunteer wins major award

    10-year-old footballer Casper Ostrowski snapped up by Morecambe

    10-year-old footballer Casper Ostrowski snapped up by Morecambe

    Kirkby Stephen U18s win bronze at national hockey championships

    Kirkby Stephen U18s win bronze at national hockey championships

    Penrith swimmer inducted into Cumbria hall of fame

    Penrith swimmer inducted into Cumbria hall of fame

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Obituaries

Bill Mossop – a skilled journalist and talented cricketer

by CWH
21 February 2024
in Latest, Obituaries
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Bill Mossop

Former Herald managing director Bill Mossop, who has died aged 78, was a skilled journalist, a talented cricketer, had a wicked, dry sense of humour, and was a quiet, private man.

Bill spent 43 years at the Herald, joining the company in 1961when he left Penrith Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and becoming an office boy, then reporter and, finally, managing director in 1986, having previously combined the roles of chief reporter and company secretary. He continued as director of the company, in a non-executive capacity, until 2019.

Bill managed the company through a period of major changes in production techniques and administration, including the introduction of on-screen composition, digital workflow and the incorporation of full colour into the newspaper.

When he joined the newspaper, the reporters’ room had one telephone and three elderly typewriters between four people and the hand-setting of type had not entirely died out. The newspaper had 16 black and white pages.

Born in Penrith, he was the son of Peggy and Wilf Mossop, and had a sister, Elizabeth, now Birkbeck. He married Vernon Harrison, of Lazonby, in 1970 and, after initially living at Arthur Street, Penrith, they moved to Thorn Tree, Lazonby, a former farm run by Vernon’s family, and where she spent her childhood.

They spent around 20 years there before moving to Penrith, where they lived at Carleton Hall Gardens.

They had two children, Susan, who lives in Penrith, and Helen, who lives in Newcastle-under-Lyme. She has two teenaged children, Oliver and Lucy.
In his younger days, Bill’s main interest outside work was cricket.

He was a talented medium pace in-swing bowler and played for Penrith in the late 1970s and early 80s. In 1978, against Workington, he accomplished the rare feat of taking nine wickets in an innings.

He also took eight wickets against Carnforth in 1977 and seven wickets for just eight runs in 1978, again against Workington. He had come into the first team in 1971, returning impressive figures of seven for 23 in his first game.

He also twice topped the North Lancashire Cricket League bowling averages and was rewarded for his consistency by being selected to play Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland against Durham at Tynefield Park.

He wrote the book Journey Through Time which chronicled the history of Penrith Cricket Club to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016.

He also played badminton, as did Vernon, but for different teams.

A keen fell walker, he was out and about only six months ago, and was a former member of Penrith mountain rescue team, as well as Penrith Ramblers, for whom he was a walk leader.

Ahead of the centenary of the end of the First World War, Bill was involved in the production of a new book which featured Penrith residents’ memories and stories from the time. Heroism, Hardship … and Victory was edited by the late Ann Risman, co-chairman of the Penrith Remembers group, with the help of Bill and a number of other contributors.

When he retired from the Herald in 2004, the then editor, the late John Hurst, said: “Although Bill Mossop ended his career as managing director, he was first a journalist and the coverage of local government was one of his strengths.

“His reporting years saw the reorganisation of local authorities, with the disappearance of the former rural and urban councils and the county councils of Cumberland and Westmorland. The new county of Cumbria was created and divided into six districts, including Eden and Allerdale.

“On a newspaper which has always devoted a lot of space to the local government scene, Bill filled a vital role, his work showing accuracy, balance and determination ­— the last-named a quality often needed in “getting the story”, despite the tendency of some councillors and officials to be over-secretive.

“Hollywood film-makers created a ridiculous image of hotshot newspapermen, depicting them with hats jammed on the back of their heads, with neckties slackened and prone to shout ‘Hold the front page’.

“Few real journalists match that showy image. Those who rise through the ranks, like Bill Mossop, are taught the importance of checking facts and spelling names correctly in garden party reports, and the onerous task of recording all the firsts, seconds and thirds at agricultural shows.

“That said, newspapers should not be deadpan and dull, a fact appreciated by Bill, who rarely missed an opportunity to make the readers smile.”

Walkers, of Penrith, have charge of funeral arrangements.

Tags: premium

Related Posts

Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC
Latest

Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

9 May 2025
Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater
Latest

Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

9 May 2025
Cheery character Derick Wilson was not afraid of hard work on the farm
Obituaries

Cheery character Derick Wilson was not afraid of hard work on the farm

9 May 2025
Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary
Latest

Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

9 May 2025
Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden
Latest

Thieves ransack treasured Penrith garden

2 May 2025
Lake District community saves village shop
Latest

Lake District community saves village shop

2 May 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Cheery character Derick Wilson was not afraid of hard work on the farm

Cheery character Derick Wilson was not afraid of hard work on the farm

9 May 2025
Brush up on your Herald history – a look back through our archives

Brush up on your Herald history – a look back through our archives

9 May 2025
Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to return to Ullswater

9 May 2025
Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

Joan marks 100th birthday with special party

9 May 2025
Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

Eden couple celebrate diamond anniversary

9 May 2025
Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

Rethink your password in light of recent cyber attacks

8 May 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2020

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald