Pearl Murray

Former features editor of Press & Journal, Aberdeen

Pearl Murray, former features editor of the Press & Journal, Aberdeen, has died in hospital, aged 73.

Murray, whose career spanned six decades, passed away following a long illness which she bore with remarkable fortitude.

She
developed a reputation for campaigning journalism during a career that
began with local newspapers in her native Buchan before joining
Aberdeen Journals as a reporter in 1955, and was appointed women’s
editor of the Evening Express three years later.

She then took up the same post on the Press & Journal in 1964, becoming features editor in 1972.

Four
years later she was appointed features executive and was awarded the
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal for services to journalism in 1973.

During
that time she spearheaded several successful campaigns, including an
appeal on behalf of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which led
to her becoming a life member.

She took early retirement in 1987,
but continued to contribute to the Press & Journal for several
years – including her Week Ending column.

An anthology of her writings, entitled Sometimes on Saturday, was published in 1994, and became a local best-seller.

Her last published work was a fourpart nostalgic series, entitled Past Times, for the Press & Journal, in 2002.

An
elegant, articulate and vivacious woman, with a highly developed social
conscience, she was tremendously well respected for her journalistic
professionalism in the far-flung North and Northeast Scotland community.

She never married, and is survived by her brother Kenny and her sister Norma.

By Hamish Mackay