Birmingham Post Editor Marc Reeves writes:

Too many journalists on the occasion of their retirement are described by misty-eyed colleagues as “legends” when their reputation and influence in fact rarely extends beyond the nearest hacks’ watering hole.

Some, though, truly deserve the description, their career path being studded with the milestones of genuine scoops and investigations and other journalistic achievements.

More importantly, though, the truly great journalists are those who consistently interpret the complexities of the world and explain to us in simple terms what is going on. Sometimes, they discuss the reasons for things, from a position of knowledge built on years of experience.

Nevill Boyd Maunsell is one of those – a true expert who for almost 40 years has been explaining to Birmingham Post readers what’s going on with the UK economy and how it effects Midland businesses.

Few people can relate the current recession to their direct experience of the last one – let alone the previous four, as can Nevill. At a dinner in Birmingham where Nevill was the key speaker earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hearing our economics editor reflecting on what he had learned in previous downturns.

Ever modest, he remarked: “But what do I know? I thought the Lehman brothers collapse was a mere blip.”

Even with decades of experience, Nevill knew he would never stop learning, and it is that natural inquisitiveness that marked him out as one of the all-time greatest journalists on the Birmingham Post, if not the regional press.

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A native of Leamington Spa, Nevill was educated at Winchester and University College, Oxford.

After National Service with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (in which both his grandfather and father had served), he learned the journalist’s trade at Comtel, the financial and commercial wing of Reuters and then as a sub-editor on the Financial Times.

He joined the Post’s City office in 1973. He became the second winner of the Wincott Prize for regional financial journalism after the late Ian Richardson, a renowned Post city editor.

Nevill officially “retired” in 1993 but carried on working for three days a week – up to today.

Geoff Thomas, regional chairman of property group DTZ, called Nevill “an institution amongst the Birmingham business community”, adding that he “regularly provided an important insight into the activities of the City of London, but importantly added a Midlands perspective”.

“His credibility, contacts and likeable manner opened many doors, enabling him to write with authority and influence. His regular readers will miss him but wish him well in a well-earned retirement.”

Stephen Jones, Birmingham director of stockbroker Brewin Dolphin, said Nevill had “made a significant contribution to establishing the Post’s reputation as the Midlands’ business paper”.

Mr Jones added: “Like any good journalist Nevill delighted in breaking a story of a new investment management group arriving in Birmingham and in recent years there have been plenty of new arrivals.

“Some have been more successful than others but Nevill has always reported in the same fair and supportive manner reflecting his genuine interest in, and fondness for, the Birmingham business community.”

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