Legend of the Press Esser dies aged 84
VETERAN Fleet Street journalist and freedom of the Press campaigner Robin Esser died yesterday, aged 4.
A former editor of the Sunday Express and later executive managing editor of the Daily Mail, Mr Esser spent 57 years in national newspapers. He was a fellow and former president of the Society of Editors.
In his memoirs on the industry, Crusaders In Chains, he wrote: ‘If democracy is to survive in this country and politicians are to be held accountable to the taxpayers, the Press, all of it, must remain free.’
A grammar school boy from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, he
‘A tireless campaigner’
attended Wadham College, Oxford, before doing his national service.
In Fleet Street, he was a reporter, gossip columnist, feature writer and foreign correspondent before succeeding Sir John Junor as Sunday Express editor in 19 6.
Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, said: ‘Robin was a fine, talented editor and a tireless campaigner on behalf of the Press.’
Ian MacGregor, president of the Society of Editors and editor emeritus at the Telegraph, said: ‘Journalists nationwide owe Robin Esser a huge debt of gratitude. He dedicated his long career not just to producing brilliant newspapers but defending Press freedom with tremendous passion.’
Mr Esser was left a widower with four young children when his first wife, Shirley, died in an accident in 1972. He married Tui France in 19 1 and had two more sons. He died at home in West London after a short illness.