obituaries TIM DAWSON


self-mockery that put everyone at their ease. Partly, I think, that came from his


Dave Rotchelle


“Remain calm,” would have been Dave’s wise counsel to anyone inclined to rend garments on hearing the terrible news of his death. He said exactly that out loud when chairing a myriad of assorted NUJ meetings and it usually worked a treat.


He and his ever-battered headgear purveyed a mild, irrefutable authority via the sort of


pre-NUJ years in showbiz. In the 1970s he schlepped UK’s length and breadth as drummer with some of pub rock’s finest: The Count Bishops, The Rockets and, most almost-famously, The Pleasers – see them on Cheggers Plays Pop at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dRHhrmGiHrs, plus adjacent YouTubes. Once he’d hung up the mohair and gold lamé, he wandered into professional photography in a largely unreported period – but it did feature a summer job at Buckingham Palace. This lends some intriguing possibilities to his favourite one-liner about how you should never be a name-dropper: “The Queen herself told me that.” Soon earning a solid living from


the usual pick’n’mix of newspapers, magazines, one-off commissions and a longstanding residency at London Press Club events, he joined the NUJ and London Freelance branch in 1998 and, propelled by


some inner wellspring of goodwill, so engaged his fellow members that we elected him to everything in sight: branch chair, freelance industrial council, national executive council… He loved chairing the branch… and the branch loved being chaired by Dave. He was such an inspiring, tone-setting examplar of grace and decency – while keeping the best of order, naturally. However, by the time he was


elected member of honour in 2016, diabetes had cruelly robbed this drummer/photographer of clear eyesight and dexterity. Worst, the lower half of his left leg had to be amputated.


He didn’t surrender. He worked


like an SAS recruit to learn how to use his prosthesis and proved such an encouraging presence to fellow amputees that the doctors asked him back several times to talk with others about how to cope. In the end though, despite the best efforts of his sister Trish and brother-in-law John, friends and professional carers,


incapacity and pain broke his spirit. Maybe Covid isolation put the tin lid on it — convivial togetherness had been his meat and drink. Admitted to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead one more time in October, he died of diabetes, pneumonia and sepsis. Dave’s friend of 40-years-plus,


The Pleasers’ singer/bass player Bo Benham said: “Dave Rotchelle was one of the most straight-talking, intelligent, fair-minded, level- headed, giving, secretive, talkative and kindest individuals you could ever wish to meet.” You can read a small avalanche


of tributes from NUJers at www.londonfreelance.org/ fl/2011obit.html and some photos of him from the London freelance branch archive over the years at www.londonfreelance. org/ fl/2011dave.html.


Phil Sutcliffe


member of hyperlocal service Local News South Wales. Its multimedia platform Port


Talbot Magnet aimed to fill a local news vacuum left as major publishers reduced coverage of this significant Welsh industrial town. Mike’s legacy includes the title, a salute to Port Talbot’s proud steel making history. NUJ colleagues paid tribute


Mike Burrows


NUJ honorary life member Mike Burrows has died at the age of 72. A retired sports journalist, Mike


was a committed, long-serving and loyal member of the Swansea and district branch. He was a former member of the Wales executive and attended many delegate meetings. In recent years Mike was – with NUJ colleagues – a founder


to him: “Mike was a stalwart of the union for as far back as I can remember” – Roger Butler. “We wouldn’t have had the Magnet without Mike – he was also one of the ‘big seven’ on the original board. He was the backbone of our NUJ branch for many years” – Rae Howells. “Good man with a passion for rugby and committed NUJ supporter. Remember fondly his quiet wit” – Chris Peregrine. “Mike was a good man and solid trade unionist and socialist. He was a typical Swansea man – to the point and no nonsense. Mike was always worth listening to, no


matter how blunt he was” – Ken Smith. “Mike was an enduring pillar of strength for the NUJ – a true comrade of the old school” – Mike Witchell. He was a humanitarian and


internationalist who had solidarity and fairness stitched into his beating red heart. Mike’s fight with illness over his


final few months was as dogged as one of his many arguments in favour of branch support for workers facing repression close to home or oceans away. His love for creative flair


remained strong. Even as he neared the end, he told anecdotes such as that about a visit to Hungary to meet football great Ferenc Puskás and how he gave a fresh-faced young Welsh actor called Michael Sheen a part in a film he was producing. A memorial celebration of Mike’s


rich and creative life will be held when circumstances allow. Mike was the beloved best friend and soul comrade of Helen. He


theJournalist | 24


leaves two brothers and 13 nieces and nephews. In his honour, his branch plans


to make donations to Action on Hearing Loss and Médecins Sans Frontières.


Andy Pearson


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28