Former local newspaper editor and football writer Dennis Signy OBE died yesterday aged 85.
Signy had, until recently, written a column in Barnet Football Club’s programme called Signy’s Soundbites.
In a statement, David Bloomfield, the programme editor, said: ‘Dennis had bravely fought a series of ailments in recent years showing great fortitude and determination, frequently overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.”
Signy started his long career as a reporter on the Ham and High newspaper at 16 before becoming a junior reporter on the Hendon and Finchley Times.
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He later became group editor for the Times Series, where he would remain for 17 years until 1985.
As a football writer, he wrote several books, frequently freelanced for numerous national newspapers and was a member of the Football Writers’ Association from 1968 to 1986.
His passion for football would lead to him becoming chief executive of Queen’s Park Rangers and a member of the Football League Advisory panel.
Friend and editor of the Borehamwood Post from 1984 to 1988, Charlie Harris, said: ‘He was one of the few local newspaper journalists to whom the description ‘legendary’ truly applies. In fact, as he would have been the first to agree, the phrase ‘a legend in his own lunchtime’ could have been coined for him.
‘He was a lovely man, a great editor, and a constant joy to work under. He will be missed, and his exploits will be recounted whenever two or more north London journalists gather for a pint.
‘He was also a staunch supporter of the Institute of Journalists, especially in the dark days of the 70s when the NUJ and the Labour government were trying to impose a closed shop in journalism. He stood up for IoJ members, and journalists who chose to stay outside of either union, when the bullying they suffered was at its nastiest.”
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