The family of John Cosslett, a former executive editor of the Western Mail who worked for the newspaper for more than 40 years, have paid tribute to their father's remarkable life, witty personality and unique career.
John starting as a cub reporter with the Western Mail and Echo in 1951, aged 18. Over the years, he rose through the ranks at the Western Mail, became a father and grandfather, and was known for hosting "lavish lunch clubs" including the so-called 'Greedy Boys Club,' which served audacious themed meals including delicacies like kangaroo tail.
John was born in Cardiff on January 19, 1935. One of his first jobs as a reporter was to visit the hotel where Lord and Lady Docker, industrialists and socialites described by Tatler as the "Dazzling Dockers," were staying. John asked reception at the Angel Hotel to call their room and ask if they would agree to an interview.
To his surprise, they did, and John secured the first of his many front page stories. After taking time out of his journalism career to do his national service in the Intelligence Corps from 1953 to 1955, he held several high-profile roles at the Western Mail including executive editor, news editor and night editor.
He oversaw the introduction of colour to the Western Mail's pages in the late 1980s and retired in 1995, continuing to work as an editorial consultant and literary editor. But to many, he was known as a host and attendee of a colourful collection of lunch clubs.
La Societe Des Gourmands, better known as the Greedy Boys Club, was John's own invention and a very popular one. Started in the early 1990s, the group met regularly with a membership of around 50 regulars and a number of guests. The group, John's eulogy reads, "became notorious for excessive indulgence of everything and the lunches were themed to represent a particular country."
Chefs cooked a diverse menu of themed meals for guests at the club - one of them, an Australian lunch, featured kangaroo tail, Australian wines, and invitations sent out incorporating Australian postage stamps.
John was also involved in the Birthday Club, an exclusive club which would invite a 'Birthday Boy' for a free lunch around the time of his birthday, where funny and sometimes 'hurtful' anecdotes about him would be shared. He also served on the Captain Scott Society's committee, which saw him organise an annual dinner and Christmas lunch at which he'd make his 'infamous' Antarctic Blue cocktail.
For his fellow former editors, journalists, photographers and production and admin staff at the Western Mail, John founded the Western Mail Survivors Society which met quarterly. He was also a proud member of the City of Cardiff Lodge of Freemasons, the Cardiff & County Club, the Harlequins Club, the Livery Guild and Friends of Cardiff Royal Infirmary (for which he helped raise thousands of pounds).
John died peacefully at home on Friday, January 27, aged 88, following a short illness due to lung cancer. He was surrounded by his children Eleri and Dyfed. A loving husband to his late wife Sarah, he will be dearly missed by Eleri, Dyfed and his three grandchildren Catrin, Leo and Max.
Western Mail editor Catrin Pascoe said: "We are so sorry to hear that John has died and send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
"Although our career paths did not cross, I know of John's valuable legacy and tireless contribution to the Western Mail - and thank him for it on behalf of our team today.
"This includes his publication of two important books which celebrate the Western Mail's proud history and journalism - The Century Collection and Behind The Headlines."
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