09 Sep 2026
Tributes have been paid to Noel Cantillon – the 12th editor of the Herts Advertiser – who has died at the age of 83.
Over a period of 22 years running the newspaper he oversaw it make the move from a paid-for title to free distribution, and the days of hot metal production replaced with desk-top publishing.
But his career with the title spanned an even longer 35 years, during which time he covered major stories including the world exclusive announcement of Robert Runcie’s appointment of Archbishop of Canterbury in September 1979 and the IRA’s attempted bombing of the Alban Arena in November 1991.
Then there was the Ledignan crash of May 1985, when five children and a teacher were killed when a coach carrying pupils from Beaumont and Verulam Schools overturned on a trip to France, and the brutal murder of internationally renowned pianist Joan Moffitt in a frenzied axe attack at her home in Rothamsted in July 1990.
Writing on the occasion of the Herts Ad’s 150th anniversary in 2005, Noel rightly predicted the future of the newspaper industry: “Where will local weekly newspapers like the Herts Advertiser be in 150 years time? Or even in 10 years time?
“Having weathered the changes and evolved – albeit at a slower pace – since those first 300 copies of that July day in 1855, the next few years promise more and perhaps greater changes.
“Will you soon be accessing your Herts Advertiser on your mobile phone or reading the pages on your multi-media home communication system?”
Noel was born in Limerick, Southern Ireland, and moved to the UK in the 1960s.
He initially worked on the Hemel Evening Post and the Newham Recorder before joining the Herts Ad as deputy editor, working under Mike Daniels, Don Smith and Robert Richardson at the newspaper’s offices in Campfield Road, before taking on the role of editor 13 years later.
At that time the title boasted at least 20 reporters and separate editions for Radlett and Harpenden. It was owned by Home Counties Newspapers, a local firm run by the Gibbs family, until it was eventually sold to Archant.
With the demise of hot metal and the Herts Ad becoming a free paper the office was moved to Porters Wood where Noel sat with the subbing and reporting staff in the newsroom.
He spearheaded a number of Herts Ad campaigns, including getting the notorious one-way system which gridlocked the city centre scrapped, the fight to keep full services at St Albans City Hospital and opposing the decision to incorporate St Albans into the East of England Regional Assembly based in Cambridge. He was also the first to warn about the implications of a rail freight depot on the city’s doorstep.
Under Archant he was always having to attend meetings including in Norwich where the new owners were based but he was much more at home with the nuts and bolts of local reporting.
He retired in 2009, aged 65, with the intention of spending more time on his favourite hobby of cycling. A keen runner for many years until he had to have a hip replaced, he took up cycling as an alternative exercise, and his experience of water-filled country roads made him a zealous campaigner to get potholes filled in.
Sadly he had to give up his bike during Covid, resorting to walking around his home town of Harpenden before eventually becoming a resident of Tara’s Retreat care home in Sandridge after falling ill. He subsequently moved to Verulam House in St Albans where he died on Sunday August 23.
Former Herts Advertiser news editor, Madeleine Burton, said: “Not only was Noel the most articulate person I have ever known but he also had amazing news sense and was involved in everything that went into the paper from the smallest article to the largest.
“His weekly leading articles were required reading for all local dignitaries and he did not hold back from saying it as it was.
“He was a remarkable editor and it was a huge pleasure working with him.”
St Albans Times editor Matt Adams, who succeeded Noel at the Herts Advertiser, added his own thoughts: “I spent several weeks in Noel’s company learning everything he could pass on about the St Albans district and the many characters who populated the local area. I remember well his invaluable pen portraits detailing many of those people, presenting fascinating insights into local politicians and community campaigners.
“We’d sit together chatting about the background to different issues and editing the copious amount of letters which were submitted each week, and I was always taken by his soft and gentle demeanour, which hid a wicked sense of humour.
“Without Noel and Madeleine’s support, it would have taken me many months to get to grips with the intricacies of St Albans life, and I am forever grateful for their input.”
Local campaigner and letter writer Vanessa Gregory said: “He cared passionately about St Albans and was just so approachable.
One of the wonderful things about Noel is that he wanted to give people a voice when they weren’t being listened to.”
St Albans district councillor Anthony Rowlands said: “Noel was editor in an era when the Herts Advertiser was delivered to most households across the city and district.
“Under his steady and engaged editorial leadership, experienced and respected journalists covered all aspects of civic affairs including providing detailed reports of council meetings. He ensured that issues were thoroughly probed and a constant light shone when necessary.”
Fellow district councillor Robert Donald added his own tribute: “Noel’s encouragement over 22 years of local journalists, like Madeleine and John [Manning] who were rooted in our local community and drilled down into local issues and local politics, ensured residents were provided with reporting that went beyond the mere facts to the different arguments and political principles behind them which fuelled public concern.
“Under Noel’s editorship council business was reported through the lens of personal attendance at meetings and councillors’ robustly different political views expressed at, and after, them.
“As a young councillor still learning the role, I owe personal thanks to Noel for providing fair and accurate reporting in the Herts Ad of my contributions at many such meetings on diverse issues as both a councillor and Mayor.
“The democratic health of St Albans district was enormously enriched by Noel’s active support of such journalism and he embodied the Herts Ad’s role as the conscience of the community.”
