The National Council for the Training of Journalists has paid tribute to its former chairman, the newspaper veteran Christopher Dicks, who has died at the age of 77.
Dicks, who spent more than 40 years at the Huddersfield Daily Examiner alongside his work for the NCTJ, died suddenly while on holiday visiting his daughter in New Zealand.
He joined the Examiner in 1951 and worked as general manager before being appointed managing director of the title in 1974. He later became company chairman, and retired in 1995.
Dicks had been involved with the NCTJ since 1968, when he joined the organisation as chair of its finance committee. He later went on to serve two terms as chairman before retiring from the board in 2004.
The current NCTJ chairman, Kim Fletcher, said Dicks had been the ‘financial brains’behind the organisation.
‘The strengths of the organisation today, particularly its firm financial footing, are due in no small part to Christopher’s outstanding skill, dedication and support.”
The NCTJ chief executive, Joanne Butcher, said Dicks’ death brought to an end a significant chapter in the group’s history.
‘Christopher was regarded with great affection and respect by everyone who was involved closely with the NCTJ over many years,’she said.
‘I always sent him a copy of our annual report with his Christmas card and he always wrote back a hugely encouraging letter. In his last note to me he said he was delighted that the newspaper industry had merged its training schemes. He loved his trips to New Zealand and was devoted to his wife and family.”
Dicks, who was also a former director of Reuters and the Newspaper Society, was awarded the OBE in 1996 for services to the newspaper industry.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
