Northern Ireland

Pioneering female Co Down editor Annie Roycroft has died in Cork aged 92

Ms Roycroft, was editor of the Co Down Spectator in Bangor for around three decades until her retirement in 1983
Ms Roycroft, was editor of the Co Down Spectator in Bangor for around three decades until her retirement in 1983 Ms Roycroft, was editor of the Co Down Spectator in Bangor for around three decades until her retirement in 1983

PIONEERING female Co Down editor Annie Roycroft has died in Cork aged 92.

Ms Roycroft, was editor of the Co Down Spectator in Bangor for around three decades until her retirement in 1983.

She later moved to Co Cork where she lived with her husband Joe Stephens until his death.

She passed away at St Luke's Home in Beaumont on Friday and was buried after a funeral yesterday in Blackrock.

The redoubtable editor gave author Colin Bateman his first job, as a cub reporter aged 17, which he described as "a great training".

Ms Roycroft had copies of the weekly paper delivered to her in Dublin following her move south.