Tribute to former Crawley Observer chief reporter

A journalist who helped shape the Crawley Observer has died, aged 85.

Jean Fitchew was chief reporter at the Observer in the late 1970s and early 80.

Jean joined the Observer from the East Grinstead Courier. She was Mother of the NUJ chapel, and took charge of training new recruits.

She lived in Copthorne during her time on the paper, and was married to Ray, with children Kim, Zoe and Stewart. She later retired to Chichester.

Former Observer reporter Phil Kerswell. who trained under Jean, at a time before mobile phones or computers, when he said the weekly paper had half a dozen reporters crammed into a smoke-filled newsroom, noisy with the clatter of typewriters, and when half the staff would be in the White Hart for a couple of pints every lunchtime.