Fitting tribute to our Miss Reporter Laraine Senthouse

Family and friends will always remember Laraine Gardner (nee Senthouse) for her warm, outgoing personality - a woman who loved meeting people and would instantly put them at their ease.

Laraine, who has recently died aged 78, had particularly happy memories of winning the coveted title Miss Reporter in December 1967, spending the next 12 months as our official ‘personality girl’ and roving ambassador, engaging with readers and the wider public.

Her diary was choc-full with charity challenges, sporting events, summer fêtes, sponsored walks, festivals and carnivals throughout the entire Reporter Group circulation area.

At that time, the group published 15 weekly newspapers including the North Cheshire Herald, Glossop Chronicle and local editions covering Gorton and Openshaw and East Manchester.

Whatever the event, the presence of Miss Reporter was guaranteed to add that little extra sparkle, a magic moment to be captured by our photographer.

Laraine crowned by retiring (1966) Miss Reporter Suzette Buckley from Mossley

At the end of the year, the then 24-year-old was thrilled to receive a souvenir photo album with the inscription: “Presented to Laraine Senthouse, Mossley Road, Ashton-under-Lyne by Mr Gerald Andrew, managing director of the Reporter Group of Newspapers to commemorate her year of office as Miss Reporter 1967 with the grateful thanks of the company.”

Laraine treasured the album which she kept with other photographs, newspaper cuttings and contest memorabilia for the rest of her life.

She was widowed last year when Bryan, her husband of more than 50 years passed away and as they had no children, the task of sifting through her possessions fell to her brother Norman Senthouse.

Gerald Andrew, Reporter MD, presents the album of highlights to Laraine

Norman told us that sharing the pictures with our readers is the perfect tribute he can give to Laraine. At the time she was in the spotlight, he was the immensely proud younger sibling looking on as he followed their father and grandfather into the family building and property repair business.

“As I looked at the photographs, what struck me straight away is her smile - so natural and genuine. Laraine was a ‘people person’ through and through and she loved being Miss Reporter. As our dad told the paper at the time, she was always a bonny girl.”

Although the family were originally from Ashton, Laraine and Norman lived in Kent for several years with their parents Bill and Florence.

They attended local schools and Laraine studied at the same college of design as the future top fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

After they had returned north, Laraine worked for Custommagic, a textiles and soft furnishings business on Pin Mill Brow, Ardwick, and also hosted product demonstrations at Kendals, Manchester, and assignments for a perfume company. Norman added: “It’s fair to say, she was used to working an audience!”

Thank you bouquet for Laraine after opening the garden fête at Stamford Boys School, Ashton