Funeral of long-serving former Doncaster Free Press journalist to take place

The funeral of a popular and well-known former Doncaster Free Press journalist and acclaimed motoring writer will take place tomorrow.
Former Doncaster Free Press journalist Bryan Longworth.Former Doncaster Free Press journalist Bryan Longworth.
Former Doncaster Free Press journalist Bryan Longworth.

Bryan Longworth, who spent much of his career working at newspapers in South Yorkshire, died earlier this month at the age of 87.

Bryan, who lived in Chesterfield with his partner Patricia Revill, spent the latter part of his career working as a reporter at the Doncaster Free Press at its former offices in Sunny Bar in the lead up to his retirement.

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In a career spanning more than six decades, he began life as a reporter on the South Yorkshire Times, progressing his way up to the editor of the paper’s Sheffield edition and as well as news, was also an acclaimed sports writer, covering the county’s football clubs, including reporting on the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 when 96 Liverpool fans were killed in a deadly crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground.

Passionate about cars and motoring, he specialised as a motoring journalist and spent many years road testing hundreds of new and luxury vehicles across Europe, often travelling to France, Italy and other exotic locations to drive the latest set of wheels.

He was a stalwart of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers for around 50 years and became a life member in 2018. He was also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

Bryan also won a Newspaper Society award for his reporting in 1997.

He died at Chesterfield Royal Infirmary on January 6. His funeral will take place at 10.50am at Chesterfield Crematorium on Saturday and will be streamed online.