Much loved reporter passes away

3:26pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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DAVE Pringle, a popular and much-loved figure in both the Guardian's newsroom and the local junior sporting scene, passed away peacefully on Monday November 17, aged 70.

Dave was a highly respected journalist throughout his 53-year working life, and despite his deteriorating health was still working with us at the Guardian up until two weeks prior to his death.

A measure of the man was that to many people Dave appeared his normal happy self as he chose to mask both the constant battles he had with diabetes and having just one complete lung.

Not one to complain and happy to still be writing and doing what he did best well after retirement age, Dave had an enthusiasm for life and sport in particular.

He was born in Stanford Rivers, near Ongar on January 12 1938, and went on to attend St John's School in Epping.

He met the love of his life Beryl when she was aged just 13 at a dance at Hastingwood Village Hall. They both went on to be medallists travelling the region, in Old Style dancing and confirmed their devotion to each other when they married at St Mary Magdalene Church, Potter Street on November 28 1959.

Dave's early love of sport saw him turn out for his local cricket team at Potter Street, Harlow where he played for over 30 years and which also resulted in his trademark flat nose after being hit by a cricket ball while in bat.

His other real sporting passion saw him supporting Ford United Football Club both professionally and post-retirement.

Dave's working career began in 1955 as a junior reporter with the Guardian, or the West Essex Gazette as it was then known.

Working for the paper his talent quickly stood out and he rapidly progressed to become sports editor in 1961.

Dave then went on to become a partner of Photocall Features picture news agency in the sixties, where his contacts and a flare for writing resulted in him taking on and scooping the best Fleet Street had to offer.

It was during his time with Photocall Features that he won one of his greatest privileges after being invited as a member of the Press Association's reporting squad to cover the 1966 World Cup.

Dave's career progression then took him onto work for over five years as a reporter for the Daily Mirror in the early 1970s.

From the late seventies he was editor of Roadline Despatch national staff newspaper and also began working on Ford News, the internal staff newspaper for the Ford Motor Company, before retiring aged 65.

It was then that the prodigal son returned home to the Guardian to take up the challenge of developing the junior sport section.

Over his five years with us Dave ensured the local junior football scene got the first class coverage it deserved. Whether it was a big cup final or a simple friendly, Dave was always armed with his trusty camera which ensured first class pictures as well as copy.

Being classed as Dave's boss was a bit of a strange one for me, because the man had been there and done it long before I'd even been born.

Always an inspiration to anyone in the newsroom Dave was already missed even in just the two weeks after he left us, but the memory of the man will live on and that is a true indication of the legend he was to us all.

He leaves behind wife Beryl, three children, Graham, Dena and Tanya and seven grandchildren. He was also survived by his mother of 95, Mary, who resides in Buckhurst Hill.

Dave's funeral is to be held on Monday December 1 at 11.30 am at St Mary Magdalene Church, Potter Street, Harlow followed by cremation at Harlow Crematorium at 12.30pm.

Anyone who knew Dave is welcome to attend. The family have asked that anyone wishing to pay further respects should make donations to the charities Diabetes UK and the British Lung Foundation. Donations can be sent to the Funeral Directors, Daniel Robinson and Sons, Wych Elm, Harlow CM20 1QP.

Please feel free to leave your memory's and stories about Dave below...