Eric Gordon died in April

HE was Camden’s great newspaper man: a campaigning journalist who thousands will have an unknown debt to. The co-founder of the New Journal and its only editor until his death aged 89,

Eric Gordon was celebrated for his “rebellious spirit” at a memorial on Saturday.

Covid rules meant limited numbers were allowed inside St Mark’s Church in Primrose Hill as his unique contribution to the borough was remembered.

Judging by the response to his death in April, the pews would have bursting and there would have been queues out of the door if the restrictions had not been in place.

His wife Samantha thanked all those who had sent messages of support and condolences as she introduced the service for family, friends and the colleagues he had helped create and grow the New Journal with.

Watch the full service here [St Mark’s Church, Regent’s Park]

Some of the music in memorial was taken from their wedding day.

Among the speakers was Camden Council leader Georgia Gould, who admitted the newspaper had provided stiff challenge to the Town Hall over many years, but said his work had been vital.

“He never lost any of his passion,” she said. “Eric was one of Camden’s great figures. He was a man with a big socialist vision and his legacy exists in the rigorous independence of the CNJ.”

Howard Hannah, the New Journal‘s Review editor

Howard Hannah, the New Journal’s Review editor who had also worked with Eric at the time of the paper’s formation, said: “Even now I have Eric’s questions in my head – I think that applies to a lot of people. He was a bit like Columbo – that was his technique, the questions and then the sharp analysis at the end of it. A bit like Columbo meets Socrates.”

Eric’s wife, Samantha

The newspaper had been born out of industrial action at the start of the 1980s and remains one of the only independent titles in the local newspaper industry.

Eric had already lived a colourful life before setting up the newspaper. In the 1960s, he was held with his first wife and son Kim in a Chinese hotel room for two years after being accused of being a spy. He had been writing notes for a book on the Cultural Revolution while working on a commune.

Kim recited the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer, at Saturday’s service.

The New Journal is planning a wider celebration of his life when Covid restrictions lift and exploring further ways to mark his unique contribution.

Why John Gulliver must go on

IN the final years of his life, Eric Gordon became the near-exclusive writer of the New Journal’s combative, campaigning and, every now and then, humourous diary page, One Week With John Gulliver.

Some people did not always realise he was the main author and the office joke when people called to speak to him would be to reply: “Sorry, John is out to lunch at the moment.”

The column, which had several contributors in previous guises, has been missing from the paper since he passed away in April.

We think Eric would have thought this a shame and it returns today (Thursday), edited by Tom Foot.