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February 14, 2002updated 22 Nov 2022 12:57pm

Ken James

By Press Gazette

 Ken James, a former news editor of the Daily Herald, has died after a short illness, aged 70.

A Welshman, he started out on the Pontypridd Observer before becoming district news reporter for the Western Mail & Echo in the Rhondda.

He moved to the Cardiff office of the Daily Herald and, in the mid-Fifties, transferred to London as a news reporter.

After a spell in Manchester as northern news editor he returned to Fleet Street as London news editor of the Herald and, briefly, its successor, the new Sun, before moving into PR.

In 1964, Ken moved to Switzerland and the following year, returned to the UK with J Walter Thompson.

During this time he was involved in the merger between Brooke Bond and Oxo, helping to set up their new press and public relations department. At the completion of that task he commented that he had "just written the ideal job for myself".

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After Brooke Bond Oxo was taken over by Unilever, he moved to the company’s London office to become head of external affairs until his retirement 10 years ago at the age of 60.

His great passion was sport. An enthusiastic golfer, Ken spent his retirement happily playing golf both at home and in Portugal and Spain with his wife and friends. He was a past captain of the Press Golfing Society.

He leaves a wife, Julie, a daughter Nicky, also a journalist, and stepsons Steve and Kevin.

David Richman

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