Tributes are paid to landlord and verger

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid following the death of Beverley landlord and retired verger Neil Pickford on Sunday after a short illness.

Mr Pickford, who grew up in the Cotswold town of Dursley, was a verger at Beverley Minster for a decade, after a career in publishing and journalism.

Eighteen months ago Mr Pickford, one of the town’s bestknown personalities, took on The Monk’s Walk, in Highgate, the oldest surviving timber-framed building in Yorkshire.

His family decided to open the pub on Sunday to allow his many friends to raise a glass.

“We had people coming in all day,” said his widow Gill. “It is early days but we do intend to keep it going because it is a real community venue now.

“The outpouring of love and support over the past 24 hours has been incredible.”

At the age of 25, Mr Pickford was the youngest editor of an English newspaper. He went on to become the editor of Bristol Illustrated and Gloucestershire and

Avon Life. Mrs Pickford said: “I can’t remember how many times he was made redundant from press and media and the last time he was: ‘Where do I go now?’ and toying with the idea of going into teaching, and then the vacancy at Beverley Minster came up.”

While in Beverley Mr Pickford continued to write newspaper columns and also had a slot on local radio. In a Facebook post Beverley Minster said: “Neil was a colleague and a friend who will be greatly missed.”

The funeral will be at Beverley Minster at 3pm on Wednesday October 18.