Angus Goodfellow

He spent his entire career in North Yorkshire, firstly on weekly newspapers and then on the Northern Echo from which he retired in 1990. He was born Angus Stewart Goodfellow in Beckenham, Kent. His father was golf correspondent for the London Evening Standard.

Mr Goodfellow was educated at Whitgift Middle School, Croydon, where he was school captain. He played rugby for the first XV team and captained the second cricket XI team.

He then studied at Hull University were he founded the university’s golf club and met Brenda who he went on to marry.

His career in journalism began in 1952 as a trainee reporter with the Thirsk, Bedale and Northallerton Times.

Four years later he moved to Richmond as district reporter for The Northern Echo, and the Darlington and Stockton Times, covering the Richmond and Swaledale district for 22 years. He then went to the Echo’s head office in Darlington as a sub-editor for 12 years, six of them as deputy chief sub-editor before his retirement.

His son John: “I used to think of him as a sort of journalistic James Herriot. He was brought up in London but he was embraced by the local communities, and was taught by farmers how to tell the difference between male and female sheep.”

He was involved in the running of the Richmondshire Museum, and was instrumental in organising a celebration of the 900th anniversary of Richmond Castle in 1971.

Mr Goodfellow was also keen on local history and was active in his community.

A former chairman of Richmond Round Table, he had been a Rotarian, and was also chairman and secretary of Richmond Probus Club. He also had a love of drama and was a member of Richmond Golf Club.

Mr Goodfellow is survived by his wife Brenda, sons John and Simon, and granddaughter Molly.