Obituary - Mr John Morrell
John Morrell, a distinguished journalist and television programme maker who started out at the Dewsbury Reporter and Batley News, died while on holiday with his family last week.
Born in Dewsbury in 1939, Mr Morrell was the elder son of the late Arthur and Sylvia Morrell of Boothroyd Lane. After studying at St John's Infant School, on the street where the family lived, he attended Wheelwright Boys Grammar School on Wheelwright Drive.
At 16 Mr Morrell left school and spent a short time working in a woollen mill before pursuing a career in journalism. Starting out at the Dewsbury Reporter and Batley News, his time as a newspaper reporter saw him work for the Wakefield Express, newspapers in Somerset and national paper, the Daily Sketch.
In the 1960s Mr Morrell began a long career in television, working on ATV's On the Braden Beat and the BBC's Nationwide. Staying with the BBC, he masterminded coverage of the 1979 General Election and edited consumer programme That's Life for a number of years. Mr Morrell became head of the BBC's special projects department, specialising in current affairs and consumer issues programmes. He also produced the Children In Need programmes and became a trustee of the charity.
Retiring from the BBC in 2000, Mr Morrell became and executive director for BAFTA and recently established his own media consultancy business, specialising in promoting the work of charities.
In 1967 Mr Morrell married Christine Duke and the couple had two children, Ross and Anna, before their divorce in 1979. In 1981 Mr Morrell married Diana Long and in June this year they celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary. They have two children, Freya and Lucy. Mr Morrell is survived by his wife, four children and two grandchildren.
Mr Morrell passed away on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, on August 28. Funeral arrangements are to be announced.
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Weather for Batley
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
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