TRIBUTES have been paid to journalist and Reading stalwart Hilary Scott, who died last week.
An inspiration to many, she was the heart and soul of many great initiatives in the town, including the Pride of Reading awards, as well as deputy editor of our predecessor, the Reading Evening Post.
Born in Glasgow, her career started in Dundee in the 1970s. She worked on national magazines such as Woman, as well as Fleet Street newspapers, before coming to Reading in 1998, staying with the Post until its demise in 2014.
She then worked as a freelance journalist, writer and editor, as well as continuing to mastermind the Pride of Reading Awards.
She had a great love of food, launching Food Monthly and working with many famous chefs including Chris Barber, Jamie Oliver, Antony Worrall Thompson and Daniel Galmiche, as well as Paul Clerehugh from The Crooked Billet and London Street Brasserie.
This spilled over into Reading events, including hosting Eat Reading in Broad Street, and being a judge on Has Reading Got Talent?, a contest at Broad Street Mall.
She also spearheaded many campaigns across Reading including The Giving Tree Christmas appeal, the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s bid to fund Robbie the robot, and the SeniorSafe initiative.
She was working with the Theatres and Arts Reading CIC campaign to save Reading gaol and turn the site into an arts hub for future generations. Her work included helping organise a massive ‘hug’ around the site.
In 2018, she was honoured with her own Pride of Reading gong: Chris Tarrant presented her with a Special Recognition Award.
Chris paid tribute to Hilary, telling ITV Meridian: “It’s a terrible, tragic loss, and we’re all just gutted.”
And journalist Sangeeta Bhabra said she was a “fantastic journalist who was absolutely passionate about where she lived”.
Hilary passed away on Friday, August 19, at Parsons Grange Care Home in Shinfield, where she had been fighting a degenerative lung disease.
In a post on social media, her two sons wrote: “We will miss her dearly, she leaves us far too young but having lived a rich life.
“We are so proud of all she achieved in the field of journalism, and for the town of Reading of which she cared deeply about.”
And the Pride of Reading team posted: “Hilary has been an inspiration to so many people both in her journalistic career and working on campaigns and events in Reading.
“Our heartfelt condolences are with Hilary’s family and friends.
“We will miss her so much, with love from the Pride of Reading organising committee, patrons, sponsors and supporters.”
Reading Today editor Phil Creighton was a trainee when he first started working at the Reading Post, with Hilary as his boss.
He said: “She was a wonderful person, full of the joys of life despite the pressures that journalism, especially at a local level, brings.
“Hilary taught me so much over the years, and was more than just a boss. It was a privilege to know her.”
