A former Express & Star columnist who sparked scores of debates among Black Country people with her entertaining and forthright views has died at the age of 98.
West Bromwich born and bred Gladys Welsh kept readers gripped for years with her lively prose on many a subject, often winning plaudits from those who praised her common sense views.
It was only at the age of 91 that she called a halt to her columns but she didn’t put down her pen and kept writing until she was admitted to Sandwell General Hospital a few weeks ago. She died on Wednesday.
Her daughter Ann Perry said today: “She always kept writing, even diaries. That never left her. My father John died a year ago last October and after that she moved into Churchfields Court in West Bromwich where she made a lot of friends. I think she said it all herself in her pieces. She used to write a lot about herself as a young girl and was known for having an active mind.
“She was quite well-known and even in hospital when a patient opposite her had a visitor, they asked ‘Is that the Gladys Welsh?’.
“She will be very sadly missed by us all.”
Gladys was 84 when her first book was published by the Express & Star. Not surprisingly, with the sort of vivid descriptions of how life was for her grandparents and parents, The Curate’s Egg was a sell-out.
And nobody was more surprised than the author. Partly because that manuscript was originally intended only for her grandchildren and not for public consumption at all.
But in retirement and looking to occupy a busy, inquiring mind, Gladys took a correspondence course with the London School of Journalism.
Her writing was said to have the rare quality of being able to fascinate with her storytelling from another age while still keeping a finger on the pulse of the modern world.
Away from her career, Gladys and her husband John had two sons as well as daughter Ann, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who were all said to be the apple of her eye.
She is also well-known in the area for her career teaching infants in the West Bromwich area. A cremation will take place at Newton Road Crematorium in West Bromwich next Thursday at 1pm.
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