IF there’s one person who can make the golden age of newspapers come to life, it is Sir Harold Evans.

The story of this consummate newsman, who everyone knew as “Harry”, from his beginnings at local papers to editorship of The Northern Echo and The Sunday Times from 1977 to 1981, is fast-paced and fascinating.

There have been so many huge stories and campaigns during his career, from battling with the law to win more compensation for the victims of thalidomide, pushing for cancer smear tests on the NHS, to unveiling genocide in Bangladesh and army torture in Northern Ireland.

Many are charted here.

What is quite amazing is his huge energy and work ethic, how he went from a working-class childhood in industrial Manchester (where his father was a train driver), failed his 11- plus but worked tirelessly to gain a first-class honours degree at Durham University, then embarked on an illustrious career in journalism.

Once known as the Running Man for the speed at which he moved, Evans’ progress only hit a wall when Rupert Murdoch moved him from The Sunday Times to The Times and, after only a year there, sacked him. Undeterred, he sought a new career in American publishing, becoming head of Random House, took US citizenship, married his second wife, 25 years his junior, and had two more children.

There’s little doubt that America’s gain was our loss – but Harry leaves a poignant reminder of what it was like to be at the helm in the truly golden age of Fleet Street.

Hannah Stephenson