Tribute to widow of E&S legend

Tributes have been paid to the widow of legendary Express & Star columnist Wilfred Byford-Jones who has died at the age of 83.

Cynthia Gregory died at her home in Westley Court, Kidderminster, last week with family members at her side.

Her funeral was due to take place at Stourbridge Crematorium today.

Mrs Gregory was the wife of journalist Wilfred Byford-Jones, better known to a generation of Express & Star readers as the columnist Quaestor.

His dispatches included interviews with leading dignatries from the region in the early to mid-20th century alongside residents with interesting stories to tell.

When they arrived at the Queen Street offices, his fellow journalists greeted them with a cry of 'Quaestor mighty!'

Wilfred's nephew Douglas Wood today said Cynthia had been at his uncle's side for much of his career and that the couple had been kindred spirits.

The pair met socially after World War II and married in 1947 when Wilfred was 39 and Cynthia 22.

Cynthia, who drove ambulances as a teenager during World War II, devoted herself to being a housewife after her marriage.

Her life was touched with tragedy after losing her brother, Derek Johnson, in the war. Cynthia's two children with Wilfred also died while in their infancy, one aged only four months and the other 18 months.

While Wilfred was embarking on his career as a journalist the couple lived in Beckbury, two miles outside Claverley.

"Wilfred was a very cheeky character full of wit and charm and Cynthia was very much the same way so they got on like a house on fire," said Mr Wood.

"Cynthia was very gregarious and you loved her minutes after just meeting her. She was wonderful," he added.

The pair eventually settled down in Wales in a cottage they had converted from a chapel and lived there together until Wilfred died in 1977. Cynthia married again a few years later to Edward Gregory who she had known for many years as an acquaintance.

They settled at Badger Lodge in Wales, where they remained until Edward's death in 1990.

She stayed on at the house for sometime after but eventually moved to Westley Court, in Kidderminster where she spent the last years of her life.

Mr Wood said: "She enjoyed living in Kidderminster as there was a good social atmosphere among the residents and she could sit and chat with them.

"She had tragedy in her life certainly but had a great spirit which remained until the end.

"She will be very much missed."