Acclaimed travel writer excelled on the keys
DAVID GORDOIS, acclaimed former Travel Editor of the News of the World and winner of many travel industry awards, has died of cancer aged 70.
Described by NoW editor Colin Myler as “without question the most gifted travel editor of his generation”, David was associated with the paper for 43 years. He continued in the saddle beyond retirement age and was still filing travel features last November, when he first became ill.
He was the first tabloid journalist to receive the Travel Writer of the Year award from Travel Trade Gazette. He was named English Tourist Board Travel Writer of the Year in l997 and last year gained the Outstanding Media Contribution award from the Visit USA Association.
He joined the NoW in 1964 as a layout sub and became both travel editor and letters page editor.
Born in Leeds, David was a trainee with the Wakefield Express. From there he went to the Coventry Evening Telegraph as a sub in 1958, and two years later to the Cambridge Evening News.
In 1962 he moved to the northern office of the Daily Herald in Manchester for a stint of subbing and layout before going to Fleet Street. He became an NUJ Life Member in 2004.
David gained the nickname The Piano Man for his love of playing on his travels — including on the Orient Express and at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
Sue Mapp