One of the great characters of Midlands journalism, and one of its best-known voices, Barrie Eccleston, has died. He was 87.
A gifted reporter and broadcaster, Barrie was involved in the launch of two of the BBC’s local radio stations.  
After working as an agency man with Caters in Birmingham and Raymonds in Derby and Stoke, Barrie moved to Leicester and Roly Orton’s agency after it got the contract to supply the news for the new BBC local radio station in 1967.
From there he joined the staff of the BBC as News Editor of Radio Derby, for its launch in 1971.  It was timely, as Rolls Royce had just gone into bankruptcy and the station went on the air two months early to cover the news.
As well as running the news team, Barrie doubled as the football commentator and reporter, covering Derby County through the Brian Clough and Dave Mackay eras.  
The club - and the town -  had been starved of success for many years and Barrie became the voice of their resurgence, through two League championships and the revival of Rolls Royce.
His close friend, Norman Innes said:  “Barrie was a journalist of the old school, who approached everything with zest and enthusiasm”.
As well as being a fine journalist, Barrie was also very good at most sports, playing cricket and golf into his old age.
He leaves a wife and two daughters.
The funeral will be at 1015 on Friday May 3, at Markeaton Crematorium in Derby, reception afterwards at Duffield Cricket Club.