TRIBUTES have been paid to a “hard-working” former Penarth Timesreporter and journalist.

Rosemary Skinner (nee Preece) died at the age of 90 on November 4.

Mrs Skinner was the wife of another former Penarth Times reporter, Bob Skinner, who described his wife as a “great journalist”.

Her husband said: “Rosemary’s life came full circle.

“She was born in Penarth in 1928, went to school and got married here. She took great happiness in spending her last 21 years living on the seafront back in her home town.”

Mrs Skinner worked for the newspaper in 1944, replacing her husband when he left for army service.

The pair met when he called into the office on leave, and married in Penarth in 1952.

Mrs Skinner later worked as a reporter on the Pontypridd Observer and for BBC Wales, as well as becoming a sub-editor on the South Wales Argus.

Mrs Skinner was born in Penarth and she and husband Bob had four members of their family who were journalists.

She leaves her son, Robert Skinner, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She also had a daughter, Beverley, who died last year.

Her son, Mr Skinner, said: “Mum was a very good journalist, known on the Penarth Times as ‘Scoop Preece’ for her uncanny ability to find news.

“She had a natural gift for friendship, and was also a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”