The gap-toothed smile and twinkle in her eyes were unforgettable. Vibrant, funny, glamorous, and kind, she was also a fearless and gifted journalist.
Diane Cooke, the former Women's Editor of the Manchester Evening News, who has died aged 63, possessed a potent mix of fizzing charm, and huge talent. She had empathy whether interviewing showbiz royalty or the grieving mother of a young woman who took her own life in Styal Prison.
During her 14 years at the MEN she was a powerhouse who led by example and a mentor to many. Her charisma opened doors when hunting stories and big interviews. But underlying her news nouse, was, as her daughter, says "an unwavering commitment to social justice".
Her career was studded with awards - feature writer of the year in the North West in 2004 and 2014, in the O2 awards, and Guardian Media Group Regional Feature Writer,in 2003. But she never let her dedication to her craft stop her from having a good time.
She also showed immense resilience, living with cancer since 2014, yet continuing a normal life, including weekly ten mile walks. She had an impressive career working for a clutch of major regional newspapers in the North West, Woman's Own in London, and doing public relations for the country's most famous TV soap, Coronation Street.
Over the last few years she hosted students from all over the world - from Brazil to Saudi Arabia - at her home for the last 20 years in Heaton Chapel. They affectionately called her "mum", grateful for how she changed their lives, often giving them a space to live openly as the people they wanted to be. Many had vowed to return.
Helen Tither, a former MEN colleague, said: "Cookie was the fearless beating heart of the features desk. So quick with just the right quip to have us all in stitches, so quick to write just the right words for a heartfelt feature or scathing column. A bloody awesome woman all round. She always said it like it was. And that's why we all loved her."
Janet Reeder, Diane's best friend, and former fashion editor at the MEN, said: "I loved her. She was beautiful, funny, honest, and brave, and when she wrote, and she wrote brilliantly, she told it as it is. She was everything to her wonderful children Elisa and Seb and they were to her.
"They cared for her in her illness and were there with her every step of the way as she began to make her final journey. I hope with all my heart that she’s headed for more adventures and that she’ll choose me to accompany her on some of them. We never wasted our time together on petty arguments or ridiculous sulkiness. Just delighted in each other’s company. I felt privileged to be close to Diane and I’ll miss her forever. So long my dear, dear friend"
Chris Gleave, a former MEN photographer, said: "It was always such a great pleasure working with Diane at the MEN. She really was always so happy and smiley, and such great company."
Diane leaves two children, Sebastian Menendez, 33, a Michelin-trained chef, and Elisa Menendez, 30, a journalist and producer with ITV News. Diane's husband, and the children's father, Carlos Menendez, died 15 years ago, taking his own life. Diane met Carlos, who was from Asturias in northern Spain, while on holiday in Tenerife. He sent her love letters then visited Manchester for a holiday and never left.
Showing typical courage and resilience she wrote an column about the impact of her husband's death on her children - just three weeks after he died.
Elisa said: "Mum was an incredibly talented journalist and her writing could make you laugh out loud or cry. Her empathy and care for others shone through and interviewees loved her for her ability to understand their stories and show compassion.
"She used to take me to jobs and photoshoots when I was a child, and I saw the emotional bond she often made with interviewees. Watching her in action was a privilege and inspired me to become a journalist, with a passion for social justice. She was the best role model and career advisor I could've ever asked for."
In a joint tribute Elisa and Seb said: "The word 'impact' springs to mind when we think of mum. Whether you were a student staying with her from Paraguay, a fellow journalist, or a stranger, our mother's words - written or spoken - had a profound impact on many people's lives.
"A true empath, she always had the time to guide anyone through whatever waters they were navigating and was never afraid to give out some of her famous home truths. She had a special knack for making you feel at ease so you could pour out whatever was on your chest, often problems you would never tell another living soul. And she used those rare abilities to bring change to people's lives through positivity.
"We always respected her for her honesty and kindness, and she taught us to be better humans. We called her our "Soft Mama" and she really was the best mum a child could ever hope for. She was an inspiration to us, and to many others, and taught us unwavering resilience when she became both mum and dad after our father died 15 years ago
"And she was bloody good fun! There never really was a dull moment as she was always challenging herself to try new things, keeping an open, positive mind, remaining forever curious with a real spice for life, cracking hilarious jokes along the way.
"Loving, resilient, beautiful, generous and a firecracker is how we would summarise her best in five words. But words will never truly do her magnificence enough justice, just as a picture of a sunset simply isn't the same as witnessing it yourself."
A staunch Manchester United fan, her Old Trafford hero was Marcus Rashford. A dog lover, she had a special bond with her chocolate labrador, Lola, who died in 2019 of cancer. Elisa said: "She often thought they were kindred spirits going through the same thing, and she really helped mum."
Diane loved to travel - visiting Abu Dhabi, Hungary, Guernesey and Wales last year. "She loved distance walking, having a glass of wine at her home, and she cared deeply about nutrition and was training to become a reiki master. Reiki had helped her heal a lot from challenges in her life - particularly our dad's suicide 15 years ago - and she wanted to help heal others..
"She loved music, fashion, socialising - particularly tearing up Manchester with her bestie and MEN fashion editor, Janet Reeder. She loved food. Many will fondly remember our Spanish restaurant in Heaton Moor, La Casona, which she took over fully after our dad died, while still balancing her career as a journalist and navigating life brilliantly for us as a single mother."
Diane Cooke was born on December 19th 1959 in Sale. The middle child - she leaves an older sister Carolyn Edwards and younger brother Conrad Cooke. Her parents were Kathleen Cozens, 88, a teacher, and her late father Derek Cooke, an artist who designed Kelloggs' early iconic logo and the first Snap, Crackle and Pop.
She was educated at Loretto College, Manchester and qualifed as a journalist via a Warrington Guardian sponsorship at Richmond College, Sheffield. Her first job was at the Irlam and Cadishead Guardian. Subsequently she worked on local and national newspapers at Stockton Heath, Bolton, the Lancashire Telegraph, and the Daily Post and Echo in Liverpool.
At the MEN she wrote her famous weekly no holds barred column "Feisty and Fearless". She also wrote a column for magazine Cheshire Life for several years. She later went on to launch her own websites The Natter and the Best Life Project, had a stint as a Slimming World consultant and wrote about mental health for NHS Merseycare Foundation Trust. Over the past year she had begun ghost writing books.
During her career she met Pope John Paul II when she went to the Vatican with actor, Liz Dawn, Corrie's Vera Duckworth; and interviewed everyone from Vivienne Westwood and Victoria Beckham to sex workers on the streets of Manchester and the bereaved mother of a young woman who killed herself at Styal Prison.
Diane died of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and pneumonia on January 14th surrounded by her family. Elisa said: "We couldn’t be prouder of her. She did it all with an unrelenting determination and resilience - like she had her whole life. She was an inspiration not only as a mother to Seb and I, but to all of us."
Forner MEN colleague, Paul Ogden, said: "It is unbelievable that such a force of nature should leave us so young. Diane was an amazingly lovely person - a fierce and brilliant writer, funny, witty, caring, with the wickedest laugh. A true MEN legend."
Elisa said: "Above all mum loved people. She loved meeting up with her legions of friends. A true socialist, she deeply cared about social justice."
