John O’Carroll

Posted: October 3, 2025

Former Sporting Life deputy chief-sub JOHN O’CARROLL died on September 25 [2025], at the age of 84. He had been suffering from cancer. John had been in a nursing home in Worthing for the previous three months but “remained determined” until the end. His daughter Christina said it was “terribly upsetting that he is no longer with us, but I’m glad he is no longer suffering”. His funeral will take place on Monday, October 13, 2025 at 3pm at St Margaret of Antioch Church, Brighton, BN2 7HA, followed by cremation at 4pm at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton, BN2 3QB. The family “would be overjoyed” to see some of John’s former friends and colleagues.

Highly respected for his form book knowledge and his meticulous attention to detail, John also worked on the racing desks of The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. He began his Fleet Street career at the Greyhound & Sporting Express, and was sent as a junior reporter at the age of only 16 to cover a world-title boxing match at Wembley. Adrian Hunt, former Daily Telegraph racing editor, who worked with O’Carroll at that paper and at the Life, recalled: “John was being forced out of the ringside seats reserved for the Press by the old Fleet Street boxing writers for being just a boy, when someone in the crowd intervened and told them to ‘give the young fella a chance’. It was Hollywood legend Bob Hope, and John kept his seat and covered the fight.” He added: “John was one of the most honourable, most genuine people I’ve ever met and was a total professional.”

Bryan Pugh, who took over the role of deputy chief-sub at the Life when John moved to the Daily Mail, said: “I worked with John during my first year at the Life in the early 1980s, and I have always remembered the support and valuable advice he gave me. I was grateful for his confidence-boosting encouragement when I took over from him as deputy chief-sub.”

Marcus Townend, who was later racing editor at the Daily Mail, was another who benefitted from John’s guidance. “John was a journalist of the old school who had racing in his blood,” he said. “He was well established on the racing desk, tipping under the nom de plume Gimcrack, when I arrived at the Mail in 1989. With a form book in one hand and a cigarette in the other, John loved to dig out big-priced winners, and he was a fastidious sub-editor.”

Tributes from friends and colleagues:

Mike Roberts – I first met John when I was doing casual shifts on the Telegraph’s racing desk in 1975/6. During a conversation about long hair, he told me: “I haven’t had my hair cut at a barber’s since it went up from 1/6.” John’s Life shift used to finish at around 10.55pm, which left him a perilously short window in which to get a drink before closing time. Consequently, I was sometimes asked to have two pints ready for him on the bar in The Stab so he could quickly quaff them before rushing off to Victoria for the last Brighton train of the day. He was most upset when, in the early 80s, British Rail withdrew the buffet car on that particular train, denying him the opportunity to have a few more pints on the way home. I was reminded of this while watching Richard Osman’s House of Games a couple of weeks ago when a question about Sir Laurence Olivier’s greatest achievement cropped up. https://www.herripedia.com/olivier-laurence-kippers/

Chris Gundry – John had rotten luck with his health but it didn’t stop him having a drink and a laugh at his beloved Brighton racecourse. He would have beaten me hands down in the smoking stakes over the years, but I think I just edged him on alcohol consumption! I remember John, pen in hand, crouched over a story he was subbing at the Life, his head virtually invisible under his long hair and the cigarette smoke. Those who have seen Blazing Saddles with Mongo lighting a cigar by putting his head in the camp fire will have a rough idea of the scene I’m describing. John was a lovely man who, thankfully, is no longer suffering.

Geoff Lester – I liked John – he had a torrid time with cancer of the throat. Malcolm [Hanover] and CKG often met up with him at Brighton races – he lived in Sussex. I used to write the odd piece for a mag he edited, but I wasn’t in office that much so only really remember John for the after-work sessions at the Rheingold Club. Sad day – another golden oldie passes on.

John is survived by daughters Georgina and Christina, son Martin and grandchildren Emily, Stanley, Daniel, Lilian and Amber.  (With thanks to the Racing Post.)