Fleet Street legend Bill Newman who helped launch The Sun newspaper in 1964 dies aged 83 after short illness
FLEET Street legend Bill Newman, one of the original team of journalists who launched The Sun newspaper in September 1964, has died after a short illness.
He was 83.
In a long career over half a century, Bill served as deputy News Editor, Managing Editor and then as The Sun’s Ombudsman dealing with readers’ queries.
Former Sun Editor Stuart Higgins recalls: “Bill Newman was a key part of what was probably one of the greatest newsdesk operations in Fleet Street.”
Bill Newman was a founding member of the Independent Press Standard Organisation and a leading figure in the Journalists’ Charity which was established by Charles Dickens in 1864.
Bill was a reporter on the Birmingham Evening Despatch before moving to Fleet Street and joining The Sun before it was taken over by Rupert Murdoch.
He was a popular figure in Fleet Street’s favourite journalist’s pub El Vino and The Garrick Club where he was famous as a wine buff and bon viveur.
He is survived by his barrister wife, Patricia.