Tributes are paid to Press legend 'Wint'
TRIBUTES have been paid by friends and former colleagues of former Guernsey Press chief reporter Herbert Winterflood, who has died at the age of 93.
‘Herbie,’ ‘Winty’ or just ‘Wint’ joined the paper in 1954 and spent his entire career with the company as a news reporter until he retired in 1993.
But even then he continued to contribute articles regularly on subjects which interested him and wrote many obituaries of leading islanders.
While covering all aspects of island life, he was particularly well-known for his interest in Guernsey’s horticulture industry, tourism, and he also worked closely with the emergency services.
Mike Watson was a newly-trained police officer when he was introduced to Mr Winterflood, who he said probably spent more time at the police station or at the nearby prison than he did at home.
‘Wint was clearly somebody who I recognised as being trusted by the bosses,’ said Mr Watson, who was deputy chief officer by the time he retired from the force.
‘He could be in and around the police station and could be relied upon to be discreet.
‘That got him the respect of the guys.’
It was not unknown for Mr Winterflood to ride along with officers on call-outs, said Mr Watson.
‘He was a lovely man and a friend to Guernsey Police.’
Graham Ingrouille was the editor of the Guernsey Press from 1992 to 1997 but worked with Mr Winterflood from the time he joined the Press.
‘Herbie joined the Press in the mid-1950s and quickly became the newspaper’s best news reporter,’ he said.
‘He built contacts with the emergency services, spent time with all of them and never let them down.
‘But he was more than just a trusted asset to the newspaper, he was a great and much-respected island personality.’
Ash Nicholas became a police officer in 1980 and said he remembered Mr Winterflood paying regular visits to the station.
‘He’d come in and make himself at home, make a cup of tea or coffee and just chat. I think he got some good scoops that way.
‘He was almost like your favourite uncle – a very affable chap.’
Former Press photographer Chris George paid tribute on Facebook.
‘Herbie had an encyclopaedic knowledge of this island, everything from the growing industry, the Occupation, transport links to the police and was a highly respected and trusted journalist,’ he said.
He said he used to often ‘lead him astray’ when the pair were working on a job together by stopping at Leonard’s Cafe on the Bridge for tea and a sausage roll.
‘Initially, he would do his grumpy old man act, wanting to get back to the office and file his copy, then with a mischievous glint in his eye, he would regale entertaining tales of the Press in bygone days, and even further back when he worked in Bill Green’s bicycle shop during the Occupation.’
