Shaw man in editor’s chair

FROM office junior to editor — that’s the 31-year path for David Whaley, who takes over as editor of the Oldham Chronicle today.

David joined the Chronicle straight from the sixth-form at North Chadderton School (the former Chadderton Grammar School) in 1979 and worked in both news and sport departments before becoming football correspondent at the Lincolnshire Echo in 1985.

While there he was a survivor of the Bradford City Fire — he was in the stand in which 56 people lost their lives — a day he later described as the most amazing journalistically and the most horrific emotionally.

From Lincoln he moved to Birmingham, where he became an assistant editor during 15 years in the Midlands, before rejoining the Chronicle in 2000 as deputy to retiring editor, Jim Williams.

David (49), married to Wendy and who lives and was brought up in Shaw, said: “Working alongside Jim has been invaluable experience. I hope an upturn in the economy can see the Chronicle strengthen its position at the very heart of the borough.

“We aim to maintain the traditions of the Chronicle while keeping pace with the dramatic changes in information technology and the way people access the news.

“Whatever changes take place, local news will always remain our number one priority.”

Bob Young steps up from sports editor to take over as deputy editor, while Kevin Richardson has become sports editor.