'He was a total professional in his work' - tributes flow for Sporting Life linchpin John O'Carroll

John O'Carroll, who was a mainstay of The Sporting Life as deputy chief sub-editor in the 1970s and early 1980s, has died at the age of 84 after a long illness.

Highly respected for his form book knowledge and his meticulous attention to detail, O'Carroll also worked on the racing desks of the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail.

He began his Fleet Street career at the Greyhound & Sporting Express and was sent as a junior reporter at the age of 16 to cover a world-title fight at Wembley. 

Adrian Hunt, the former Daily Telegraph racing editor, who worked with O'Carroll at that paper and at The Sporting Life, recalls: "John was being forced out of the ringside seats reserved for the press by the old Fleet Street boxing writers for being just a boy when someone in the crowd intervened and told them to 'give the young fella a chance'. It was Hollywood legend Bob Hope and John kept his seat and covered the fight.

"John was one of the most honourable, most genuine people I've ever met and was a total professional in his work," Hunt added.

Bryan Pugh, who took over the role of deputy chief sub-editor at The Sporting Life when O'Carroll moved to the Daily Mail, said: “I worked with John during my first year at the Life in the early 1980s and I have always remembered the support and valuable advice he gave me. I was most grateful for his confidence-boosting encouragement when I took over from him as deputy chief sub-editor on his departure.”

Marcus Townend, who was later racing editor at the Daily Mail, was another who benefited from O'Carroll's guidance. "John was a journalist of the old school who had racing in his blood," Townend said. "He was well established on the racing desk, tipping under the nom de plume Gimcrack, when I arrived at the Mail in 1989. 

"With a form book in one hand and a cigarette in the other, John loved to dig out big-priced winners, and he was a fastidious sub-editor. You certainly needed your full stops and commas in the right place if John was subbing your story."

When he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1994, O'Carroll was given an even-money chance by doctors of surviving for four years, but beat the odds handsomely.

He died last Thursday at St Michael's nursing home in Worthing, West Sussex. A devoted family man, he leaves behind daughters Georgina and Christina, son Martin and grandchildren Emily, Stanley, Daniel, Lilian and Amber. His funeral will take place on Monday, October 13 at 3pm at St Margaret of Antioch church, Brighton, BN2 7HA, followed by cremation at 4pm at Woodvale crematorium, Brighton, BN2 3QB.