Former Daily Sketch editor Howard French dies aged 95

Howard French – a journalist described as “a pivotal figure in the creation of the modern Daily Mail”, has died, aged 95.

Today’s Daily Mail report desribes French as “a distinguished journalist of the old school”, who worked for Associated Newspapers for 40 years.

He joined the company ass a reporter on the then Sunday Dispatch in 1936 and rose to become editor of the Daily Sketch in 1962 – a job he kept until being succeeded by Sir David English in 1969.

Newspaper editor Howard French pictured in 1955.

He is pictured above in 1955.

The Daily Mail today descibes him as:

Tall and slim, always immaculately dressed with highly-polished shoes and sporting a handlebar moustache, French did not conform to the popular image of a Fleet Street editor.

Possessed of great foresight and wisdom, French, an expert on newspaper design, went on to become director in charge of editorial development, a director of Harmsworth Publications and a director of Associated Newspapers.