Tributes paid after 'true Stroud legend' dies aged 71

Jo Barber was "trusted" by the Stroud community while she worked at the Gloucestershire Citizen

Tributes have been paid to a "true Stroud legend" after the "fearless" journalist's death.

Jo Barber, who worked as a reporter at the Gloucestershire Citizen until 2014, passed away on 27 June at the age of 71.

Her friends and former colleagues have hailed her "passion and dedication" to the job, saying she impressed everyone with her "bubbly personality".

“My thoughts are with her daughters Grace and Holly and step-daughter Charlotte, of whom she was very proud," former Stroud Life editor Ben Falconer said.

"Jo was natural born journalist, she genuinely believed that being properly informed was the cornerstone of a just society and a fair democracy," said photographer Simon Pizzey, who worked with Ms Barber for 25 years.

“As a friend she made me laugh and was always there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I will miss her terribly.

“Throughout most of her career she was also a lone parent balancing the demands of motherhood with a challenging job," added Mr Pizzey.

Ms Barber, who went to Stroud High School, started her career in journalism as an apprentice at the Stroud News and Journal and worked there from 1972 to 1975.

She then moved to The Citizen, where she remained until she retired a decade ago.

During her career, she built-up an "amazing knowledge of Stroud", which landed her many exclusive interviews, including one with Princess Anne.

Ms Barber had the same hairdresser as a member of the Princess Royal's staff, which resulted in a trusting relationship between Ms Barber and Princess Anne, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reports.

Ms Barber built-up a trusting relationship with Princess Anne

After retiring from journalism, she went on to be clerk of Minchinhampton and Standish parish councils.

Mr Falconer said Ms Barber abided by "firm journalistic principles of fairness, accountability and impartiality".

"She wasn’t afraid to upset someone in the course of her work, and she did not suffer fools gladly.

“She was passionate about the difference she could make and picked up on community campaigns and championed them many times," he added.

'First port-of-call'

Vicky Temple, former Stroud Life news editor, said Ms Barber was a fantastic news reporter and a good friend.

“She had an amazing knowledge of Stroud and its diverse people, whether that was royalty or its community heroes.

“Whenever I was reporting on an issue, Jo was always my first port of call for the ‘lowdown’ and I learnt so much from her. She was a true Stroud legend," she said.

'Fearless'

Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner media and communications manager Graham Gardner met Ms Barber on his very first day in journalism 50 years ago.

“Jo was a conscientious reporter who dedicated her professional life to Stroud. People spoke to her because they could trust her.

“She had a smile and bubbly personality that added to the gaiety of every newsroom we worked in," he added.