Scottish journalism has been plunged into sadness following the death of David Kelso, one of the country's most distinguished reporters, at the age of 63.
Wednesday, 4th November 2020, 7:00 am
Educated at Jordanhill College School in Glasgow, Mr Kelso joined a local paper in Clydebank as a trainee reporter in the mid-1970s and quickly revealed not only an unerring eye for a good story, but also a flair for sub-editing and page design.
It was as a sub-editor that he joined the Daily Record, then the largest-selling daily newspaper in Scotland.
Mr Kelso quickly moved through the ranks, coping with the demands and pressures of a busy news desk.
It was little surprise when the Scottish Sun, the Record's great rival, head-hunted Mr Kelso, appointing him to the role of night editor and later assistant editor.
However, his first love of breaking news stories saw him carve out a new career as a freelance reporter. He was a regular on the press benches at Dumbarton Sheriff Court where he broke several exclusives.
Having spotted a gap in sports coverage, Mr Kelso established himself as the leading freelance rugby correspondent in the country and developed a particular niche in supplying the tabloids with user-friendly copy.
His work featured in both The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday.
In a separate enterprise and in partnership with a freelance colleague, he formed Cricket Media Scotland, the first agency in the country to cover international and domestic Scottish cricket.
Having lived most of his life in Glasgow's west-end, Mr Kelso spent his final years on the Isle of Arran where he ran a successful bed and breakfast business in addition to continuing his freelance work.
Not even a cancer diagnosis curtailed his journalist activities. Mr Kelso filed his final story from a hospital bed on 30 October, but became too ill to carry on and died four days later.
Former Edinburgh Evening News rugby correspondent Bill Lothian posted on Twitter: "Deeply saddened to learn of the passing this morning of David Kelso, journalist colleague. A time for remembering fun times on rugby tours and press box banter."
He is survived by partner Carol and sons Roddy and Duncan.
Source: scotsman.com
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