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December 18, 2007

Funeral held for journeyman sub-editor Levack

By Press Gazette

Former Daily Mail, People and Express sub-editor Ian Levack has died aged 73.

His career began when he ran a newspaper stall at Hanger Lane station, selling the old Evening News while looking for a break submitting short stories to Titbits magazine.

Eventually he landed a job at Women’s Mirror, where he worked alongside close friend Brian Checkley and became known for his natural headline writing talent.

His career took him to the London Standard, the launch of the Daily Sketch and from there to The Sun before joining the Daily Mail, where he spent his longest time under the editor he called the greatest, David English.

He then moved on to The People, The Sun, Star and the Sunday Express as a permanent casual working alongside and counting among his friends legends including Ray Mills, John Smith and, the ‘best writer I ever met”, Ian Wooldridge.

His funeral was due to take place at Mortlake Crematorium on Friday at 1.30pm.

Flowers or donations to the British Heart Foundation c/o Patrick Ryan and Daughter Undertakers, 6 South Ealing Road, Ealing, London W5 4QA.

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