Tributes have been paid to Neal Butterworth, the former editor of the Daily Echo, who has died after losing his battle with cancer. He was 55. Neal passed away at Poole Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. His wife Julie and daughters, Gemma and Dayna, were at his bedside.
Editor of the Echo between 1998 and 2011, he and his wife had moved to Spain last summer. A diagnosis of bowel cancer brought him home for treatment.
Amongst the many tributes, Elizabeth Purcell, Chief Executive of the Lewis-Manning Hospice, which offers free specialist palliative nursing care to around 650 local people living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, said: “Lewis-Manning Hospice would like to join with those who have sent the family and friends of the late Neal Butterworth sincere sympathy and condolences.
“Neal was a great friend and supporter of Lewis-Manning Hospice and will be sadly missed by us all. Through the pages of the Echo he ensured, that over the years, Lewis-Manning had a place to share news and events, and personally he and his wife Julie actually attended some of our fundraising which was so welcomed by us all.”
Editor, Janine Pulford, said, “All at mags4dorset would like to send condolences to Neal’s family. He was one of those likeable people who stood out from the crowd, combining energy and enthusiasm with the arduous task of editing a newspaper. In his time with the Echo, his columns were lively and made addictive reading. He will be greatly missed in the world of words.”
Steve Cook, editor Seeker News said, “As the new boy in the world of publishing I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside some great journalists and learn about the newspaper industry from them.
“Neal was a man respected by all who knew him and when we started Seeker News he was kind enough to offer advice and guidance. His input was invaluable right up to helping proof the first issue of the paper a couple of weeks ago.
“Neal was, and will remain, an inspiration to us all at Seeker News with his easy, relaxed writing style, his honesty, integrity and, above all, his dignity.
“He will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him and if I only manage to be a fraction of the newspaper editor he was, I will be proud of that achievement.”
PHOTO: NEAL BUTTERWORTH © Seeker News
