A former sports editor of the Wisbech Standard has died aged 79 after living with dementia for several years.
Clive joined the Standard in the early 60s as a cub reporter.
He soon moved on to sport achieving his childhood ambition.
He succeeded Roger Green as sports editor when Roger was made editor of the Wisbech Standard.
Clive became well known in local sporting circles especially with his sometimes-controversial weekly column “Friday with Frusher”.
In 1974 Clive moved to the sister paper, the Peterborough Standard.
It was there that he won the best regional and provincial sports pages in the country after he completely redesigned the sports pages.
Clive later moved into the magazine sector, eventually forming his own publishing company.
Clive died on June 21, 2023, aged 79, and is survived by his wife Janet, sons Alastair and Thomas and grandchildren, Florence, Ruby, Samson, Leo, and Busby.
A thanksgiving service for Clive’s life will be held at St John’s Church, Werrington on Tuesday 18 July at 2pm.
Among tributes has been that from Fleet News, which Clive joined in 1984 as editor.
“Fleet News is saddened to learn of the death of a former editor,” said a tribute on their website.
“Clive was appointed editor of Fleet News and Fleet Facts (a glossy supplement) in October 1984.
“He was editor for two years but remained with the business for a decade, working out of offices in Park Road, Peterborough, and the Orton Centre.
“During that time, he covered a multitude of motor shows including the magazine’s own Fleet Show (an early forerunner to Fleet & Mobility Live).
“In the magazine’s 40th anniversary edition in 2018, Clive reflected fondly on his time at Fleet News.”
Clive wrote: “One memory of Fleet News is that we were allowed to smoke (I had an occasional Hamlet cigar and my publishing director Peter Peskett used to chain-smoke cigarettes),” he quipped.
His many journalist and publisher roles during a long and varied career included a spell as sports editor of the Peterborough Standard.
He retired at 65.
In 2018 Clive and Janet Frusher gathered with family at the Harecroft Road ground, Wisbech, for the unveiling of a special bench to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
A plaque displayed on the commemorative bench read: “In celebration of 50 years of happy marriage between Janet and Clive Frusher.
“A fine Fen couple – hailing from Walpole St Andrew and Walton Highway – who first met and fell in love at a cricket match in the Wisbech surrounds…”
Bob Burgess, chairman of the club, said at the time: “From a club point of view we can only say that we were delighted to be able to help to commemorate their family milestone.
“It shows the importance of the social network that cricket has always been able to support and lasts beyond the playing field.
“The family did also indulge the club by purchasing several ‘Crockey Dive’ entries for our big draw to be held later this year.”
