The PPA would like to offer its condolences to the friends and family of Gerry Saunders MBE, the respected former editor of Drapers Record, who sadly passed away on July 3.
Gerry, who was made an MBE for services to journalism and was heavily involved in the Periodicals Training Council (PTC), is survived by his widow Anne and daughters Kitty and Helen.
A funeral service will be held at 12 noon at Golders Green Crematorium on July 17. Friends and colleagues interested in attending the service can get in touch by email at gandasaunders@btinternet.co.uk or on 020 8883 7274.
Anyone wishing to make a charitable donation can send a cheque for either Retail Trust (a fashion industry charity formerly known as The Cottage Homes) or the RNLI via the funeral director Cooksey & Son at 190 Fortis Green Road, London N10 3DU. Flowers can be sent to the same address.
Gerry began his journalism career at Century Press Ltd as a junior reporter in 1945, working on Textile Bulletin, Women’s Wear News, Man and His Clothes and Fur Weekly News.
After two years’ National Service in the Royal Air Force, he joined The Outfitter as Senior Reporter before joining Drapers Record in 1958 and moving up to become editor in 1973 and publisher in 1980. He was made Publishing Director of the Thomson fashion titles in 1989.
Gerry was a member of the editorial training committee of the Periodicals Training Council from 1982 to 1991, joining the PTC board in October of that year. He was also chairman of judges for the PTC Magazine Journalist of the Year Awards in 1987 and 1993, and chairman of the working party that rewrote and redesigned the PTC editorial training manual for magazine journalists in 1995.
In 2000 he was presented with the PTC Chairman’s Award for outstanding contribution to training in the magazine industry by Terry Mansfield, Managing Director of The National Magazines Company.
When International Thomson Business Publishing was acquired by emap in February 1993, Gerry joined emap Maclaren as Publishing Development Director. He retired from full-time publishing in 1994 but continued to work on special projects, including the launch of The Fashion Index. He was also involved in the creation of the Menswear Council and the World Apparel Market exhibition.
Gerry was active on a number of trade committees and charities and was made MBE in the New Year’s Honours List 1989 for services to journalism.