Tributes paid to journalist who championed Valley
TRIBUTES have been paid to a journalist who ‘championed Rossendale’.
Ian Pilkington worked as a news reporter for the Rossendale Free Press from the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.
Ian, who grew up in Rawtenstall and worked in the town for many years, died at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Friday, March 9 after a short illness, aged 71.
His daughter, Nicola Johnstone, 45, said her father ‘cared deeply about his community’.
She said: “Dad was proud that he worked in newspapers and particularly that he spent his career on his home patch.
“He thought his home town and the wider Rossendale area was a beautiful and interesting place and was always keen to champion the area and its people.
“I think that’s why he loved his job.”
Unusually for a reporter, Ian did not drive so he would be seen popping on a bus or getting a taxi with his notepad and pen to get to meetings, interviews and incidents.
Nicola, from Helmshore, added: “He was a real people person with natural curiosity.
“He told me he’d often go for a few pints at the Royal Oak pub in Stacksteads where he’d pick up the local gossip.
“Once he was out on a job and ended up being chased down the road by a goose. He always wore a tie and was quite proud of his collection.
“He was also a stickler for grammar and punctuation - which obviously comes from his journalistic background. He had a really cheeky personality and everyone who knew him will remember him for his sense of humour.”
Ian also worked for periods later in his career at the Lancashire Tele- graph and at the Burnley Express.
His hobbies included watching Manchester United and photography. He also had a particular interest in horticulture and would cultivate different types of flowers.
Nicola said: “His passion was growing fuchsias and he used to display them at shows.
“He even created a unique one which he registered to be named ‘Nicola Jayne’ after me.”
In retirement he lived in Padiham and enjoyed going on overseas cruises with his wife Karen.
He also leaves step-son Gareth and his wife Kathryn, Nicola’s husband Duncan and grandchildren Jessica, Mollie and Charlie.
His funeral service was held at Burnley Crematorium on Wednesday, March 21.