COLLEAGUES past and present have paid tribute to a Welshpool man regarded as a “talented, old school” journalist who was known as ‘Mr News’, following his death this week.

Revered former County Times journalist Barry Jones died on Tuesday evening, May 17; he was 66. Barry had dealt with health issues for most of his adult life and had battled kidney problems for many years.

He forged a long career as a dedicated and skilled writer, a journalist who became a lynchpin of the Welshpool news and arts and music scene – working at his hometown newspaper for nearly half a century.

“It was his life, it was all he wanted,” sister Pauline said this week about Barry’s job as a County Times reporter, “the only job he ever had”.

Born on August 8, 1955, in a house on Nelson Place, Welshpool, Barry was quintessentially Welshpool – he was still living just a stone’s throw away from where he was born until his death.

Pauline confirmed that her brother joined the County Times straight from school and although a formal start date has not been traced it is thought he began covering the news in and around his home town in the early 1970s.

He finished at the paper in 2020, leaving as the Covid-19 pandemic hit, meaning he had worked for the County Times for just shy of 50 years. He covered various other patches, including Machynlleth and Bishops Castle, but his pride and joy was overseeing the old ‘What’s On’ section of the paper, which spoke to his love for music and the arts.

Former County Times editor and North Wales Newspapers editor-in-chief Graham Breeze said: “The news of Barry’s passing is very sad indeed.

“All his friends and colleagues know that he has fought a brave fight against failing health for many years, but the news still comes as a shock. I saw him only last week.

County Times: Barry (top row, third from right) pictured with other County Times reporters and advertising staff at the Dementia Friendly event held at the newspaper's offices in Broad Street, Welshpool on February 24, 2017.Barry (top row, third from right) pictured with other County Times reporters and advertising staff at the Dementia Friendly event held at the newspaper's offices in Broad Street, Welshpool on February 24, 2017.

“I worked with Barry for over 40 years and we became good friends. He joined the County Times straight from school and quickly developed a solid reputation with colleagues and members of the public. He was a trusted journalist and became ‘Mr News’ in the Welshpool area with a brilliant eye for a story.

“Nothing much ruffled him and I lost count of the occasions when he would leave the building saying he had just filed some copy only to find he had uncovered the splash of the week without a hint of excitement.

“He will always be remembered for his sense of fun and infectious laugh – but most of all as an outstanding old-school journalist.”

Another former colleague and friend is ex-County Times photographer Phil Blagg, who spent more than 20 years working with Barry and described him as a “one-off”.

“I loved him to bits, I don’t think I’ll ever meet anyone like him again,” said Phil.

“He was someone who was very intelligent but he never liked to let on how clever he was; he knew a lot about a lot of things, he knew so much about everything. His knowledge of all things was unbelievable.

“When I first joined the paper in the mid-90s I remember that he was the main front page story every week without fail.”

Phil also revealed Barry’s one big passion other than his job – New York City.

“He absolutely loved New York, he used to go for the Thanksgiving Day parade every year,” added Phil.

“It was his one holiday every year. He never used to have one apart from the annual New York trip, he used to go every year before he fell ill 10-15 years ago.

“He kept himself to himself, he was a very private person, but he had a very caring side.”

Current County Times sports and community content editor Gavin Grosvenor, who joined the paper in 1999, remembers Barry fondly.

“Barry was one of the longest-serving journalists in County Times history and already well established when I joined,” said Gavin.

“He was unique in his devotion to Mid Wales arts and certainly dedicated himself to his columns in which he had so much pride.

“Barry had a strong personality and was never one to not call a spade a spade. Yet, he was also very witty and knowledgeable who cared for those who cared for him.

“Barry was the last of a dying breed of journalists who came through during the 1970s and one who witnessed so much change during his working life.

“I only worked with him for 20 years and have so many memories, so those who worked with him earlier in his career would have even more memories of a unique man and talented journalist.”