Page 1151 - Reading Mercury

Adam McKinley, former editor of the Wokingham Times, has died of lung cancer at
the age of 73. Mr. McKinley passed away peacefully in the early hours of last
Wednesday morning at his home in Bramber Mews, Caversham Park Village. He
leaves a wife, Dorothy, four children, three step-children and 11 grandchildren.
Born in Scotland, Mr. McKinley started off his career in journalism as a reporter on
the Glasgow Herald before moving to the prestigious Scottish Daily Express where he
was crime reporter. His career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World
War and Mr. McKinley abandoned his notebook for a life at sea, serving with the
Fleet Air Arm.
During his years in services he travelled the world and was torpedoed twice,
narrowly missing death. He was eventually demobbed in Australia and spent a year
travelling around the country before returning to England. Once safely back home Mr.
McKinley resumed his career moving to the London offices of the Daily Express, and
then to the Daily Herald where he enjoyed the prestige of being one of the youngest
news editors in Fleet Street.
He later moved to Kenya where he edited the Mombassa Times, and his prolific
career was also to include spells working for the Hull Daily Mail, the Nottingham
Evening Post, the Daily Telegraph and Border Television in Carlisle.
In 1970 he made his final move and arrived at the Wokingham Times as news
editor. He then went on to be deputy editor before being made editor of the series. He
was also appointed editor of the Reading Standard and editorial director of Thames
Valley Newspapers.
Mr. McKinley semi-retired in 1983 but remained an important figure in local
newspapers writing weekly columns in the Wokingham Times, Basingstoke Standard
and Reading Standard until two years ago when he suffered a stroke. As editor of the
Times, Mr. McKinley established a reputation as a tough but fair man. The son of a
Labour M.P. he displayed a keen sense of politics, both national and local, and his
comments were both feared and respected by councillors throughout the area.
Mr. McKinley will also be remembered by many for his dedication and hard work
to help to raise £2M for the Thomas Scanner Appeal.

Thur 7th Sept
TOWN’S HON. CONSTABLE DIES
Harry Dyer, Honorary Constable to the Wokingham Mayor for 17 years died last
Friday, aged 77. As well as his role of honorary constable which involved protecting
the mayoral entourage, Mr. Dyer was also a caretaker at the Town Hall for about 15
years.
His wife, Kathleen, 76, who lives in Norreys Avenue said her husband lived in the
town all his life. If anyone in the Town Hall wanted anything he was always there. He
would also organise disabled children’s parties when he was retired. Before working
at the Town Hall he was a market gardener at Robins Farm and worked at Luckley-
Oakfield School.
He and Kathleen were childhood sweethearts. She lived at Mount Pleasant and
Harry lived nearby. They were young and each married someone else. Mrs. Dyer
married a soldier from Aldershot and moved to Cowley. It was only fate that brought
the young love alive 46 years later.
Harry’s son-in-law, Tony, used to look after her mother, buying her birthday and
Christmas presents every year—though Mrs. Dyer had no idea who he was. They met
at her mother’s funeral and remained friends. Then one day he brought his father-in-

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