News
Tributes paid to former MNA editor and trainer Brian Mason
A former newspaper editor who trained generations of journalists in the Midlands has died while on holiday in the Ukraine.
Brian Mason, 79, from Wellington, is thought to have had a heart attack while on a break with wife Beryl.
Brian was the first editor of the Telford Journal, a newspaper created specifically to serve the expanding new town, which launched on January 5, 1973.
In 1981 he became the training manager for the Midland News Association, training journalists for the Express & Star, Shropshire Star and other company publications.
He oversaw the switch to emerging new technology and served on the main board of directors of the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
But he was also involved in a wide range of other roles, including helping to found the Shropshire Talking Newspaper for blind and partially sighted people, an organisation he worked with for more than 30 years.
“It’s quite astonishing, looking back, to see exactly how much he was involved in,” said daughter Caitlin Bisknell.
Brian died in the early hours of June 26. A memorial service will be held in Wellington on a date to be announced.
Caitlin added: “He had an enormous impact on many young journalists.
“He was editor of Telford New Town’s only newspaper at a time when there was a lot of change.
“It brought together the various communities and was critical in making sure the people of the area knew and understood what was happening and how they could have their say.
“Many of his trainees went on to work for national newspapers and media organisations.
“He was a member of the National Union of Journalists locally, and was very involved with Telford Hornets rugby club.
“He was vice president there and played for a number of years as captain of the thirds.”
Brian Mason, standing left, in 1976 with the West Shropshire Talking Newspaper team
“With mum, he was very involved in the Wrekin and Telford Arts Festival, promoting the arts and helping to bring artists and musicians to the area,” she added.
Another love was motorcycling, about which he wrote a regular column.
Among other achievements was the award of a gold badge for donating 50 pints of blood.
Starting his journalistic career in 1958, he was a trainee reporter on the Bexleyheath and Welling Times.
After three years in East Grinstead, he moved to Shropshire and the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News in 1964.
The paper was superseded by the Shropshire Journal, of which Brian became news editor, before becoming first editor of the Telford Journal.
As an in-company trainer, he helped tutor NCTJ subbing courses and ran the Birmingham examinations centre for 10 years.
On other professional bodies, he served on the Newspaper Society Training Committee and helped rewrite the new journalism NVQ standards.
He retired in 2000 after nearly 20 years training journalists.
Brian met and married his wife Beryl in Bexleyheath and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2011.
Brian is also survived by his children Caitlin, who lives in Derbyshire, and Claire Heaton, Iain Mason, and Gavin Mason, who all live in Wellington.
Brian also has eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
