Ex-Courier reporter Brian, 72
A PORTABLE typewriter which had seen better days and a priceless book of contacts these were the tools of the trade of inspirational journalist Brian Walters, who has died aged 72.
Mr Walters was born in 1947, the youngest of three children.
On leaving school and after a short spell with the Neath Guardian, Mr Walters moved north working in Accrington and at the West Lancashire Gazette, and then the Halifax Evening Courier.
There followed spells on the Western Mail, Cardiff, the Birmingham Mail, as local government correspondent at the Yorkshire Evening Post and local government correspondent at the Courier. In the mid-1980s he moved back to Wales as local government editor of the South Wales Evening Post and when the Welsh Assembly was formed in 1999 he took on the duties covering the workings of the Senedd in Cardiff. Mr Walters left the post and worked as advisor to Welsh Assembly member Trish Law.
Former colleague Edward Riley, who went on to become editor of the Courier, said Mr Walters had an unorthodox way of news gathering: “He put that down to a bulging book of contacts which he called upon whenever the occasion demanded. He had the ability to spot a story and quickly turn it into a little gem. He was a very sociable man with an infectious laugh and a great sense of humour.”
Mr Walters leaves Vanessa and sons Geraint and Gareth and six grandchildren.
Mr Walters’ funeral is being held at Margan Crematorium, Port Talbot, at noon on Friday, November 8
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