The funeral took place Monday 27th July 2020 at the Agecroft Crematorium Chapel at 10.20 am followed by a graveside committal
Sadly the video link provided by the funeral director did not work on the day. They have assured his family that the video is available to view using the same log in details as previously advised and listed below;
Please use the log in details and password detailed below
Login / Order ID: 41366
Password: sjjwncfy
View the order of service below;
Donations in Keith’s memory are being gratefully received for the British Heart Foundation and the British Lung Foundation.
If you wish to make a donation please do so via Laithwaites Funeralcare, 15 Eccles Old Road, Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester M6 7DE
(Any cheques payable to the chosen charity and please note Keith’s name on the rear of the cheque).
Keith was widely known within the industry through his career with Mail Newspapers and his many years with Northern ACE as committee member, Chair (1997) and secretary. Keith was also a keen supporter of news trade charities.
James Keith Doney was born in 1948, 1 of 4 boys in Salford Manchester. In his youth Keith was a promising goalkeeper a position he continued with the Daily Mail team alongside friend of 55 years Brian Kean who noted the position suited him well as it required less running and allowed him to have the occasional fag.
Keith passionately followed Manchester United for all his life as well as having a keen interest in Salford City Reds and all forms of horse racing. He was an excellent golfer and an incredibly talented gardener. Keith also studied genealogy and traced his family back over many generations. Keith is survived by his wife of 46 years, Vikki – the love of his life.
Career
Keith worked for Associated Newspapers in two periods from 1964-1970 and from 1977 until December 2010. During his first Daily Mail service Keith worked in the Northern Circulation, Purchasing, Cashiers and Accounting departments in Manchester.
From 1970 to 1977 he worked for The National Society of Operatives and Printers Assistants (NATSOPA) as personnel clerk and Casual Listings Manager. In 1977 he re-joined the Daily Mail as a Circulation Clerk. In 1980 Keith was appointed Circulation Representative for the Daily Mail in East Lancashire and then Field Sales Supervisor and Northern Regional Manager between 1984 and 1990.
In 1990 when the Mail Newspapers Joint Department was formed by merging the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday teams Keith was a Regional Manager and then Deputy National Wholesale Manager based in Manchester before moving his office although not his home to London to become National Wholesale Manager and subsequently Supply Chain and Logistics Manager. From 2007 until his retirement in 2010 Keith was Commercial Manager of Mail Newspapers responsible for a number of contracts and for strategic planning.
During his many years at the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday Keith acted as an excellent mentor and passed on his experience and knowledge to many young and up and coming Circulation Executives. Keith was professional, compassionate and highly regarded by his colleagues and the industry
Personal Tributes
“Keith made countless friends during his many years in newspaper circulation and his untimely death has come as a shock to all those who knew this amiable, funny, generous, dedicated and brilliant circulation executive. He will be very sadly missed. (Barry Allsop)”“Keith was funny, intelligent and direct. The master of the one liner, legendary for his famous mutterings under his breath. At work he was direct and challenging, but his sense of humour and great company is what people will remember him for most. (Tracey Hart)”“In good humour people would allude to his natural hair colouring as….Ginger…copper….redhead etc. Keith would politely and, with his natural humour, correct them by saying its actually ” PERSIAN SUNSET”. My overwhelming memories will be around his humour and the fun we had as Juniors at the Mail. (Brian Kean)”
“I have never known a more respected person within the newspaper business, both with his own colleagues and that of other titles and wholesale executives, his work ethic was legendary, he had vision and his trade knowledge was Encyclopaedic. His dry sense of humour was well known and his commitment to Northern Ace carried the committee for many years. He was a good friend and I will miss him very much. (Colin Duke)”“I am just sitting my in my chair thinking of his vision, intellect, wisdom, fantastic dry sense of humour and plenty of common sense (John Buckley)”“I recall my first meeting with Keith in 1991. A colleague informed me Keith “angrenade” Doney would be there and to watch myself. I have to say he lived up to the name, a few minutes into the meeting someone from Smiths made an innocent comment which Keith didn’t like and the bomb/angrenade went off! Minutes later when the dust had settled it was like nothing had happened and the meeting came to a happy end. From that day on I kept to the right of the firing pin/clip, I became a good friend and he became a better friend always steering me in the right direction and helping me wherever possible. I will remember him with fond and happy memories. RIP Keith “angrenade” Doney (Phil Lockwood)”
ACE wishes to express sincere thanks to Barry Allsop, Brian Kean, Colin Duke, John Buckley, Phil Lockwood and Tracy Hart for their assistance in preparing this memory of Keith