Former journalist from Warwick tells the stories behind murders, strikes and car launches in new book
A former journalist who lives in Warwick has told the stories behind murders, strikes and car launches in his new book.
Two murders in one day, Britain’s worst hotel fire, and the dramatic trial of a priest-turned IRA commander, are just some of the stories covered by former journalist Colin Walkey 50 years ago.
In ‘Stories Behind the Headlines’, which is being published this week, the Warwick-based author tells how reporters found stories, and recalls many that were never published.
“These stories from colleagues in the 1960s and 1970s were always more interesting and amusing than those that made the headlines,” said Colin, who worked on the Cambridge Evening News and Coventry Evening Telegraph.
“This was before computers, mobile phones, and social media. A time when reporters were encouraged to visit pubs to find stories – and claim expenses for their drinks without providing receipts.
"It was also a period when regional evening newspapers were sold to every household in their circulation areas.”
When Colin moved into public relations with Austin Rover he was heavily involved in strikes at Longbridge and other factories. These events routinely made the front pages of national newspapers.
“Again the stories behind the strikes, which were never published, were much more interesting,” said Colin, who also played a key role in the battle to prevent Ford from taking over Austin Rover.
Colin was promoted to the board of Land Rover Group in 1987, and, over the next decade, he was part of a management team that doubled Land Rover’s sales around the world.
He was responsible for the worldwide press launches of the Land Rover Discovery in1989, and the new Range Rover in 1994.
His book reveals the background to the takeovers by British Aerospace and BMW. And he tells how he created a Land Rover adventure for journalists to follow the trail of a momentous trek that Hannibal (and his elephants) made across the Alps 2,000 years ago.
Later, he also organised an arduous expedition to a remote part of the world that no living human being had visited.
‘Stories Behind the Headlines’ will be published on September 26 and costs £9.95. It will be available from Colin’s website: www.colinwalkey.co.uk, or by emailing [email protected]