Robin Charles Esser (6 May 1933 – 6 November 2017) was a British newspaper executive and former editor. After doing National Service and studying at Wadham College, Oxford University, where he edited the '' Cherwell'' newspaper, Esser began his career as a reporter with the ''

Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first ...

'' and '' Daily Sketch'' in 1957. He edited the Express' "Hickey" column, and gave both Nigel Dempster and Paul Dacre their first jobs on a national newspaper. By 1969, he was the newspaper's New York editor, and was the first British journalist to interview the

Apollo 11 Apollo 11 was a spaceflight conducted from July 16 to 24, 1969, by the United States and launched by NASA. It marked the first time that humans Moon landing, landed on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin l ...

astronauts. He later became consultant editor of the '' London Evening News'', before in 1985 returning to the ''Daily Express''. In 1986, he became editor of the '' Sunday Express'',Robin Esser: No plans to retire as he marks 50 years in press
, '' Press Gazette'', 27 December 2007. a post he held until 1989. A great supporter and friend of

Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...

, Esser was due to receive a knighthood in 1990 but declined the honour on the grounds that it was not appropriate for a serving editor to accept it. Esser moved to the '' Daily Mail'' in 1991, where he introduced an arts and entertainment supplement, published on Fridays. He subsequently became the paper's Executive Managing Editor and oversaw the launch of its website MailOnline. He was an active member of the Society of Editors, for which he chaired the Parliamentary & Legal Committee, and the Commonwealth Press Union Media Trust. Esser published three books, ''The Hot Potato'' (1969), ''The Paper Chase'' (1971), and ''Crusaders In Chains'' (2015).

Personal life

He was married to Shirley Clough and had 4 children with her. After an accident in 1972 while on holiday Shirley died and Robin was left a widower. He Met Tui France his second wife and remarried in 1981 and went on to have 2 more children with her. He died a father of 6, a grandfather of 10 and a great grandfather of 4. Who's Who 2017

References

* Burke's Peerage * Who's Who 2009 {{DEFAULTSORT:Esser, Robin 1935 births 2017 deaths Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford British newspaper editors British newspaper executives