Peter Taylor

Posted: May 30th, 2020

Veteran Daily Mirror newsdesk secretary LOUISE FLOOD – she has worked at the Mirror for approaching 40 years – wanted to share a few memories of her dad, Mirror printer PETER TAYLOR, who died last August [2019], aged 92.

She said: “I am in my 39th year at the Daily Mirror – I’ve been newsdesk secretary for 31 years. My dad introduced me to newspapers by enrolling me in the union. Before joining editorial I worked in circulation and transport. The picture [above] was taken at my mum and dad’s Diamond wedding anniversary on November 18, 2010 – I look much younger in the photo! My parents were married for 69 years.

“My grandfather used to work at the Daily Mirror before the Second World War and during the 1960s. He was also a printer, so the Daily Mirror has always been a big part of our life.

“My dad Peter worked as a printer from 1955 when he joined the Natsopa print union. He worked in various flat shops, and joined Fleet Street in the 1970s working as a casual on all the national newspapers until a permanent job in the machine room became available at Mirror Group Newspapers.

“Dad was made redundant in the late 80s and shortly after that joined a solicitor’s office as a messenger. The location just a few yards away from Fleet Street was great – he could still visit his favourite drinking haunts!

“A strong union man, Peter was a typical Fleet Street character who loved a drink, a bet on the horses and a row with the Management! In his younger years Peter loved playing cricket, and in later years, he took up golf. One of his great loves was Charlton Athletic FC.

“Born in 1927 in South London, Peter married his childhood sweetheart, Rita, in 1950. They moved to Bromley and were together for 69 years before Peter passed away on August 14, 2019, 13 days after my mum.

“It would have been dad’s 93rd birthday next Friday (June 5). Mum had been ill for years with Parkinson’s and for the past 18 months they had shared a room at the same nursing home. Dad died unexpectedly a few days after Rita, broken hearted.”