David Donaldson

Posted: January 23rd, 2024

DAVID DONALDSON, a former night news editor at the Daily Record for more than 20 years, died on January 14 [2024]. He was 80.

During a 30-year plus career at the Record, David was deputy chief reporter before being appointed night news editor in 1981. When he was made redundant from the Record, he was promptly head-hunted by the Scottish Daily Express to become their night news editor.

Ken Laird, a former assistant editor at the Record and deputy editor of the Sunday Mail, said: “I recall the then Lord Provost of Glasgow calling the news desk and being somewhat tetchy with the introductory statement: ‘This is your Lord Provost speaking.’ David quickly interjected: ‘You are not my Lord Provost. I live in Kilbarchan!’ (a village in Renfrewshire 20 miles from Glasgow.)

AMP Committee member Malcolm Speed said: “I was news editor during some of David’s time, and he loved being night news editor. Very few news stories escaped his vigilance. David was feisty and pugnacious in the era of Martin Clarke’s editorship.

“Condolences to David’s family. His wife Mirrlee died some years ago. His son Russell and daughter Caroline were at his bedside when he died in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley.”