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Fred Willis: Tributes paid to ex-YEP tennis and squash writer
Fred Willis.
TRIBUTES have been paid to Fred Willis, the award-winning Yorkshire Evening Post tennis and squash writer, who passed away after an illness on Sunday, May 29, aged 69.
Leeds-born Willis began his career as a 15-year-old tea-boy in the Ripon office of the Northern Echo before moving to the York Evening Press three years later.
He then moved to the Evening News on Trinity Street, Leeds and after receiving glowing references moved to the Yorkshire Evening Post 17 months later where he worked until retiring following a biking accident in 1996.
During his time at the YEP, Willis was a reporter, sub-editor, news editor and finally assistant editor but the popular Yorkshireman continued freelancing following his retirement and was revered for his coverage of tennis and squash as well as football.
Indeed, in 2009 he was presented with an award from the English Squash and Racketball Association in Manchester for outstanding contribution to squash.
Willis, a former squash player for Armley Squash Club, was also a Harrogate councillor for 12 years and always dreamt of retiring to a holiday home in Grewelthorpe, Masham with wife Margaret.
He also leaves behind daughter Helen and son Richard as well as four grandchildren, Willis having been diagnosed with vascular dementia last year and having passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning at Belmont House in Starbeck.
Daughter Helen said that even up to last year, her dedicated journalist father was still busy beavering away.
“He had a bad biking accident which forced him to retire but I think the word retirement should be in inverted commas as he then took up freelance writing,” she said.
“He was a fit and healthy guy who used to go running up until he was poorly and it has been a rapid decline over the last few months but at least he has had a peaceful end.
“The phone has not stopped ringing with people offering their condolences.”
His ashes are likely to be scattered on Gallows Hill Moor near Grewelthorpe, where he wished to eventually live.
His daughter added: “He wanted to retire to a holiday home in Grewelthorpe as he loved it there.
“He and mum spent a lot of their weekends there but they never did move there as Mum never wanted to be too far from a Marks and Spencers!”
Willis’ funeral will take place on the afternoon of Friday, June 10, at St Mark’s Church on Leeds Road, Harrogate with all those wishing to pay their respects welcome.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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