Express & Star

Tributes to 'loveable and cantankerous' Black Country journalist

A journalist who worked in the West Midlands for more than 30 years has died at the age of 77.

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David Bell

David Bell, of Cradley Heath, a former Birmingham Evening Mail municipal editor, died in Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley.

Mr Bell, originally from Hartlepool, joined the newspaper in 1976 and worked there until 2007.

He had considerable local government knowledge and held to account councillors of all parties, exposing many scandals and cases of financial mismanagement. He was widely respected by those same councillors for his fairness and accuracy.

Mr Bell occupied virtually every role in newspapers during his long career, including one spell as women’s editor.

John Duckers, former business editor of the Birmingham Post, said: “He was a man of direct opinions and gruff asides but whose heart was in the right place. An old school journalist who loved nothing better than to dig out a tale who someone somewhere wanted buried.

“Both loveable and cantankerous, he still followed Birmingham and national events closely, enjoying nothing better than to scheme and gossip at the bar while putting the world to rights. Predicting both Brexit and a Donald Trump victory. A life which richly deserves a classic wake but sadly coronavirus means that at best it will be delayed for months.”

Former Birmingham City Council deputy leader Andy Howell commented: “David Bell was one the last great municipal journalists, perhaps the very last. He could sniff out insincerity at half a mile. Treat him with respect, be honest with what you knew and could reasonably say and he treated you in a similar way.

“Over the years I became very fond of David. Our political views were very different. To him I was a wet, Guardian reading leftie; I regularly pointed out that his own views were to the right of Attila the Hun. He was a private person but every meeting with David, and every Guinness shared, was one of fun and laughter. The demise of the municipal correspondent — who held councils to account — has left us all the poorer.”

Mr Bell was a member of Sandwell Golf Club and followed Hartlepool United football club until his death.

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