Tributes paid to 'enthusiastic and bubbly' ECHO journalist and writer

Tributes were paid today to a former ECHO journalist who has died aged 88.

Monica O’Hara, a former features writer and medical correspondent at the ECHO, died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Friday, April 12, aged 88, following a stroke six days earlier from which she never fully recovered consciousness.

Monica, who was at the ECHO for 21 years during the 1970s, 80s and early 1990s, was described as an enthusiastic and bubbly character with a quirky sense of humour and a love of classical music.

Her son, Arthur O'Hara, sent the following obituary in memory of his mother:

She enjoyed a wonderful rapport with animals, owned several dogs and, on one occasion, was even sent by her editor at the Echo, George Crijean, to interview a goat! She joined the Echo in 1971, having previously worked at the Catholic paper the Universe, the Liverpool Observer and the Warrington Guardian.

Before this, she had been a freelance contributor to numerous women’s weekly magazines throughout the early 1960s. During her time at the ECHO, Monica interviewed and was on friendly terms with many of the notable personalities of the day including Diana, Princess of Wales, former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and television presenters Michael Parkinson and Chris Tarrant, as well as England’s World-Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, outspoken politician Edwina Currie and actress Anna Friel to name but a few.

Monica left the ECHO in 1992 to run the public relations desk at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a role perfectly suited to the daughter of a GP with a long-standing interest in all things medical. After retiring in 1994, she continued to contribute to various publications, including the ECHO, on a freelance basis, whilst focusing most of her attention on her continuing career as an author and freelance graphologist.

Her list of published works include ‘The Causes and Treatments of Kidney Disease’, ‘Hands Off The Titanic’, ‘I Died on The Titanic’ and ‘Lady of Lanarth’.

Born in 1935 in Liverpool, Monica and her older sister Doreen were raised in the Republic of Ireland before Monica returned to the city she loved at the age of 19. She was married three times; to fellow Scouser and war veteran Michael O’Hara, to renowned hypnotherapist and former ECHO canteen manager Joe Keeton, and in the later years of her life, when she was living in Paddock Wood, Kent, to retired bank manager David Laker.

Monica is survived by her three children and eight grandchildren. Her daughter Esther, a fellow Titanic expert and enthusiast, teaches English and is a politician who served two terms as Deputy Mayor for the Green Party in her hometown of Trollhattan in Sweden. Her son Arthur is a retired press photographer, with Michael and Arthur both writers, musicians and recording artists.

Moncia’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, May 15 at St Andrew’s Church in Paddock Wood, Kent, her local church where she was known and loved, having lived in the village and been a central part of the community there for the past 20 years. A wake will follow at the Camden Arms pub in the nearby village of Pembury, where all are welcome.

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