Popular Jim will be sadly missed

JIM WHITTINGHAM

Oldham Chronicle advertising manager Jim Whittingham died suddenly yesterday.

Jim (60) was the newspaper’s longest serving full-time employee, starting in 1964. He was appointed advertising manager in 1992 after serving as deputy for many years. He leaves wife Maureen; two daughters, Joanne and Gemma; and grandson Dylan.

Colleagues were shocked by the death of the popular manager.

Chronicle editor Jim Williams said that Mr Whittingham had been an incredibly loyal and committed servant of the Oldham Chronicle.

He added: “Jim led the advertising team for many years and had developed close working relationships with many of the Chronicle’s advertisers, who all knew him personally.

“He was a key figure in planning local and national advertising strategy for the newspaper and was a member of the senior management team.

“Jim was a devoted husband, dad and granddad and his main interest outside family and work was his beloved Oldham Athletic. He was a hugely popular member of the Chronicle staff and will be greatly missed by all of his friends and colleagues.”

During Latics’ most difficult days in 2003, Jim was heavily involved with Trust Oldham, the supporters’ organisation founded to help keep Oldham Athletic afloat.

Barry Owen, chairman of Trust Oldham, said: “Jim was well-liked by everyone. Our condolences go to his family.”

Philip Hirst, managing director of Hirst, Kidd and Rennie, the Chronicle’s publishers, said: “Jim's death represents an enormous loss to the Chronicle, not only in terms of his great experience gained over four decades of working in the advertising department, but also as a long-standing colleague and friend. I know that our advertising customers, too, will miss him.

“Jim believed in honest, straightforward dealing with customers, and that is a priceless asset. Both company and customers knew that they could rely on Jim's word, and there are too few people around like that."