FORMER reporter and editor of the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, Derek Walter Butterworth, has died aged 51.

Derek, who lived in Sale with his wife of 13 years Dianne, died in Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital earlier this month. He was the grandson of Walter Butterworth, founder of the Prestwich Guide as it was then titled in 1921.

Derek started his journalistic career at the age of 15, immediately after leaving Heys Boys' Secondary School.

Before leaving, he studied English up to A-level, also shorthand and attained a speed of 120 words per minute. He quickly learnt his trade and reported Prestwich and Whitefield council meetings, court proceedings and, with local government re-organisation in 1974, committee and general meetings of the new Bury Council.

Derek also covered local events and human interest stories. He was friendly and popular with all he met and his writing was accurate and impartial. When the Guide became part of the Bury Times Group, he continued to work under the new proprietors and made further friends among his new colleagues.

He left, on good terms, to take up an editorial post with BNFL News and was also involved in the introduction of a smaller house magazine, Risley News.

His work for these industrial papers took him all over the North of England and, occasionally, to Scotland, Europe and America.

The funeral service and committal took place at Altrincham Crematorium last Friday (Feb 18). It was conducted by the Rev Graham Skinner of St Mary's, Sale. A eulogy was delivered was delivered by Clive Morris, an old school friend.

Along with family mourners, present were colleagues from the Bury Times Group, other newspapers and BNFL Risley. Also attending were two other friends from "Heys", John Baker and Ray Hopley who had travelled from Brighton and Cornwall.

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