Editor,
I'm greatly saddened to see mention of the passing of Gordon Maxwell, who had only recently become news editor at the Oldham Chronicle when I started on my short spell as a reporter there, from October 1970 to July 1971.
I first met him in 1966 in the lounge bar of the Royal Oak Pub, Lees Road in Hurst Cross when - as a reporter at the Ashton Reporter - I was interviewing actor Ronnie Fraser on his return from making the movie 'Flight of the Phoenix' in Hollywood.
There's no denying that my time at the Chron wasn't a bed-of-roses, and particularly since I didn't hit it off with Gordon, or his 'favourite' News Editor Peter O'Reilly; which sparked my departure to London and the tabloids.
Even so, I liked and respected Gordon for his noted skills and evident professionalism.
Ironically, only recently, I couldn't get Gordon Maxwell off my mind, and - after checking him out - was delighted to see that he was still alive, and at such a great age.
There's no denying Gordon Maxwell was a dynamic operator and a stalwart as far as the continued success of the Hirst, Kidd and Rennie 'Bible' was concerned.
God Bless the dear man!
Gerry Nicholas
(aka Actor Gerry George)
