A FORMER editorial chief of the Worcester News and its sister titles has died at the age of 84.

John Hardeman died at Warwick Hospital, with his family around him, on April 19.

Mr Hardeman became editorial director of Berrows Newspapers in the 1980s, the forerunner of today’s Newsquest which owns this newspaper. As editorial director he sat on the board of directors, overseeing the editorial direction of the Worcester Evening News and a dozen weeklies including the Berrows Journal. He served in this role into the 1990s.

Mr Hardeman was elected president of the National Guild of Newspaper Editors in 1985 and was later appointed to the Press Council, the national press regulatory body, before spending two years with the Newspaper Society in London.

Born in Rugby he left school at 14-years-old and despite his youth and lack of qualifications, son Simon said he persuaded the editor of the Rugby Advertiser to give him a job.

“Contacts gave him the nickname ‘Scoop’,” his son said.

“During this time he began his involvement in the civic life of the town, and sang in several choirs, including the Rugby Philharmonic Society.”

In his later career he was involved in training the next generation of journalists, as chairman of the body responsible for the introduction and running of the industry’s National Vocational Qualifications.

In his late 70s, during retirement, Mr Hardeman gained a degree and then a masters in global history, from the University of Warwick.

Mr Hardeman was married to Kathleen for more than 20 years before later marrying Sheila who he lived with in Pershore and then Bourton-on-the-Hill before her death.

John Hardeman is survived by his children Simon, Sarah, Jonathan, Joanna, and Laure.