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.
