TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved and successful newspaper editor after he died recently aged 93. 

Llandrinio-born Brian Barratt, a former editor of The Advertizer, Rhyl Journal and Farm News, among many others, died in Prestatyn where he had lived since 2017. 

Former employees and colleagues – many of who were given their first start in the business by Brian – paid tribute to a man they say knew the newspaper industry inside out. 

Susan Perry, Regional Editor for Newsquest North Wales said: “It was Brian who inspired me to be a newspaper editor. 

“I had just turned 19 when Brian employed me as a junior reporter at the Oswestry and Border Counties Advertizer. 

“Not only was he an inspiration and brilliant journalist, he was a lovely man too. 

“On a quiet news day he could always generate a story, he lived and breathed news, something that inspired me and made me want to report the news and ultimately make Brian proud. 

“He was a great mentor to me even after his retirement and always gave great advice. 

“ My children have fond memories of visiting him and his late wife Beryl at their home in Llanymynech, helping to pick apples. 

“I, like many others, was so lucky to have worked with ‘Bertie’ and my sincere condolences go to his family.” 

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Elwyn Edwards, who worked with Brian at the Rhyl Journal as his deputy editor, credits his former boss with revitalising the then century-old paper. 

And he said that Brian was ‘nothing short of a great editor’. 

He added: “I worked with him in Rhyl when he joined as editor after NWN bought it around 1969. 

“We worked together until he moved back to Oswestry in the late 80s, taking over Country Quest. 

“During that time, he revitalised the Journal which had been going for 100 years.  

“Brian was a great editor and I always thought he was old school – he led the Journal into a new era. 

“He changed the front page to news and not adverts and that won a lot of people over.  

“He was a genuine reporter and a great bloke who I never had a problem with. 

“He and his wife Beryl were part of the community – he became a figurehead for the paper and on the social scene.” 

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Bob Platt, a former Radio 5Live news reporter, owed his start to Brian too, adding that he thanked him for his career and life lessons.  

“He gave me my first job in journalism when I joined the Rhyl Journal in 1972,” he said. 

“I had applied for the Leader but that had already been filled but he gave me a ring about having a chat for the Journal. 

“I have so much to thank him for because of how my career started. 

“Brian was a fabulous guy to work for – he dispensed wisdom by sleight of hand. 

“I learned how to deal with people and life and he was as much a friend as he was a boss.” 

Former colleague at the Leader, John Shone, added: “He was a lovely man – a genuine, genial man and a great editor.” 

A keen Mason, Brian was born in London during the Blitz and completed national Service in Warrington with the RAF.