Former director and Chronicle writer dies

Harry Hirst and his wife, Joan, pictured when they celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in 2008

HARRY Hirst, the well known Oldham newspaper director, golfer and writer, has died aged 86.

Mr Hirst, a former director of Hirst, Kidd and Rennie Ltd, publisher of the Chronicle, worked at the newspaper for 37 years, joining as a reporter in 1946.

Great-grandson of Jonathan Hirst, the Chronicle’s owner and editor in the 1850s, he became sports editor then chief sub-editor before retiring from journalism in 1983, though he remained a director until last year.

A keen participating sportsman, he played cricket with Rochdale in the Central Lancashire League as a young man, and later enjoyed bowls, snooker and golf.

He was responsible for introducing the Chronicle’s Youth Golf Championship, and organising the newspaper’s cups for men and women golfers.

As a qualified snooker referee, he was an acknowledged expert on the sport, and for many years organised the Chronicle snooker and bowls handicaps, formerly named after the Green Final sports paper.

In his later years, he was well known for his golfing activities on and off the greens, with his wife, Joan.

He was a member of Werneth and later Saddleworth golf clubs, and helped to organise events for the Oldham and District Golf Association, and the Oldham Ladies’ Golf Association with which he was actively involved until recently.

In the 1970s, he published a series of books called “Day Drives”, covering places around Oldham, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire..

Born in North Wales, Mr Hirst was married to Joan for 62 years. They celebrated their diamond wedding in 2008, but first met as church members in Rhos-on-Sea in 1936.

He spent a year at Cambridge University early in the Second World War, but then enlisted.

He was a petty officer in the Fleet Air Arm, while Joan travelled the country as a physical training instructor, and they moved to Oldham when he began his career at the Chronicle.

He also leaves a son, Christopher, a retired Hirst, Kidd and Rennie Ltd director, who managed the Chronicle’s printing department.

Philip Hirst, managing director of Hirst, Kidd and Rennie Ltd, and Mr Hirst’s cousin, said: “I worked with Harry in the editorial department in the 1970s and 1980s when there were six members of the family in the business. Those were great days for a family-owned business like ours.

“He always had a keen sense of humour, and strong views on the newspaper and the town.

“He was a talented sportsman, of course, but also a fine pianist.

“I am proud to have worked with him as a journalist and a fellow director.”