Gerry Armes one of the Journalists’ Charity’s most prolific fund-raisers has died after a short illness, aged 96.
Gerry was relentless in promoting the welfare of journalists throughout his working life – and well into retirement. In particular, as chairman of the Journalists’ Charity in the Midlands, he was responsible for raising more than £350,000.
Gerry joined the Birmingham Gazette and Evening Despatch as a photographer in 1949 and rose to became Chief Sports photographer of the Birmingham Mail. He was also a former chairman of the Birmingham Press Club.
As early as 1954, Gerry was involved in helping his fellow journalists.
By 1961 he had joined the Birmingham Press Charities Committee to promote the Press Ball and also organise the first Birmingham Press Queen Contest to raise money.
In 1978 that committee changed its name to the Newspaper Press Fund Birmingham District. The following year Gerry helped organise the first Greyhound Racing fund-raising evening which ran without interruption for 32 years.
He stood down as district chairman in 1985, but as support dwindled, he came back to take the chair in 1990 and resurrected the district with the help of John Slim, Alan Deeley, Bob Gilman and Chris Bates.
Between them they built up a strong Midlands’ Committee to promote the fund and those it supports.
Alan’s widow Val Deeley has been a major contributor to the charity’s work as District Secretary for many years.
In addition to the Greyhound Evening, Gerry launched a second Midlands’ fund-raising venture in 1993: The first celebrity lunch was held at the old Birmingham Press Club building. The guest speaker was Eve Pollard, then Editor of the Daily Express, and the lunch raised £1,000. (Photo below with Gerry, Eve and Alan Deeley)
The following year the Celebrity lunch moved to a larger venue, the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, with ITN Newsreader Trevor MacDonald. Gerry and his Midlands committee persuaded a large number of top journalists and celebrities to give up their time free of charge to speak at these lunches and also arranged sponsorship from generous supporters.
NB *List of speakers below
But Gerry’s work for the charity has not just been limited to fund raising. He had been responsible for providing pastoral care, visits and referrals to specialist advice for journalists and their dependents in the Midlands for many years.
Gerry became a Trustee and member of the charity’s national council in 1988, retiring in 2010. He was also appointed a life-Vice President.
He retired as District chairman in 2008, but served another 10 years as Midlands’ treasurer. In 2018 Gerry was appointed the Charity’s Midlands’ district first honorary president. This unique position was created to recognise an outstanding contribution to the charity at both regional and national level for more than 50 years.
Gerry’s concern with the welfare of his fellow professionals was not just limited to his work with the Journalists’ Charity. He also represented the region on the National Union of Journalists’ National Executive in the 1970s, before leaving the union. He then joined the Institute of Journalists, becoming its President in 1987 – the first photographer to hold the post.
To say Gerry was a driving force is an understatement . He was relentless in cajoling his contacts, fellow committee members and even sponsors to support the Charity, to which he was devoted, over many years.
He had a direct no-nonsense approach and his boundless enthusiasm endeared him to those who worked alongside him.
He is survived by his beloved wife Jane (Pictured below together at their Solihull home on his 95th birthday), two daughters from a previous marriage and four grandchildren.
Gerry’s funeral will take place on Monday 14th October at 1.30 at the Robin Hood Crematorium, Streetsbrook Rd, Shirley, Solihull B90 3NL
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*Midlands Celebrity Lunch speakers include:
Kate Adie, Sir Richard Branson, Fern Britton Michael Brunson, Michael Buerk, Roger Cook, Greg Dyke , (Lord) Lou & Michael Grade, Richard Littlejohn, Des Lynham, Sir Trevor MacDonald, Kelvin Mackenzie, Sir Michael Parkinson, Jeremy Paxman, Robert Peston, Eve Pollard, Nick Robinson, Jon Snow, Chris Tarrant, Richard Whiteley.
**The charity’s next Midlands lunch takes place at Edgbaston Golf Club on November 8th November with Sky’s Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt. Details: https://journalistscharity.org.uk/midlands-celebrity-lunch-2024-friday-8th-november-2024/