Former County Gazette managing director Malcolm Harris dies aged 81

Malcolm, who had been in ill health in recent years, spent his entire career in newspapers.

He was born in Swindon, where he attended grammar school and higher education, before joining one newspaper company after another, gaining experience and promotions along the way.

His love and knowledge of all sport was legendary and he started out attending and reporting on matches.

He was also an accomplished violinist in his youth and had a lifelong love of music.

Tina, Malcolm, his son Jason and colleagues at a Taunton Town football match. (Image: Supplied)

Malcolm worked in locations as far apart as Southampton, Bedford and Hitchin and later became editor of the Salisbury Times and Journal, with the two publications merging during that period.

His time in Salisbury brought him into contact with the newspaper group’s titles based in Taunton, and he eventually took up the post of managing director of the County Gazette and its sister papers, where he was supportive of Somerset County Cricket Club, local sports teams, Taunton Carnival and many other organisations.

By then, Malcolm and his first wife had long separated. The couple had worked together in Salisbury, along with a teenage colleague called Tina.

Tina had gone on to run a chain of fashion shops in Dorset, Devon and Somerset, but returned to the publishing business, which led to her coincidentally getting to meet up with Malcolm again after both had divorced.

Malcolm with Somerset cricketer Keith Parsons. (Image: Supplied) They married in 1991 and enjoyed 33 years of “amazing times together”.

After Malcolm took early retirement in the late 1990s, he and Tina were headhunted to run a publishing company in London, producing newspapers for ex-pat Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans.

After retiring a second time, Malcolm volunteered for 20 years with Somerset County Council’s education team chairing school appeals, where he was “scrupulously fair” in his dealings.

Panel manager Neil Milne said: “Malcolm brought a sense of fair play from cricket into the school appeals and spent many hours sitting on admission and transport appeals panels and exclusion review panels.

“He took time to put nervous appellants at ease and his calm and authoritative approach always ensured that fractious appeal hearings progressed smoothly.” 

Malcolm presenting trophies to Taunton Rugby Club captain Mick Reece. (Image: Supplied) Tina said: “I introduced Malcolm to my childhood home of Barbados, where many holidays were spent there - the last one for six weeks in 2020, when Covid had us rushing to get home.

“Unfortunately, from this time onwards, Malcolm was besieged with one health issue after another, all borne in his stoic and selfless way.”

The couple’s merged families include sons Jason and Michael, Louise and Neil and lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren, of whom he was immensely attached and always interested in whatever they were up to.

Malcolm pictured with his wife Tina. (Image: Supplied)

Tina added: “He was the man to go to if there was a question or problem. His wise counsel will be sadly missed by the entire family.

“My beloved and wonderful husband will be remembered as an intelligent, dignified, sports loving person.”

A private funeral is being held at his request and a celebration of his life’s scheduled for November.