Vivienne Harris (businesswoman)
Encyclopedia
Vivienne Harris, MBE
(née Hytner; born 1921, Prestwich
, Lancashire
, England
, UK — died 4 March 2011) was a British businesswoman, newspaper publisher and journalist
who co-founded the Jewish Telegraph
in December 1950 with her husband, Frank Harris. The couple married in 1949.
Frank Harris, a freelance journalist, had relocated to Manchester
from London. She and her husband co-founded the weekly Jewish Telegraph in the dining room
of their home in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1950. Vivienne Harris oversaw much of the newspaper's expansion from its origins as a four-page, weekly paper during the next sixty years, until 2011. Under Harris, the Jewish Telegraph expanded to four editions in four major British cities – Manchester, Leeds
, Liverpool
and Glasgow
. Her husband and newspaper co-founder Frank Harris died in 1979. Their son, Paul, became group editor while Vivienne remained financial director and co-owner.
In June 1997, Harris was the recipient of the MBE
for her contributions to journalism
and to Greater Manchester
. She remained the Jewish Telegraph's financial director
until her death in 2011. Harris was active in numerous charitable organizations, including Save the Children
, the Citizens Advice Bureau
of Salford, the League of Jewish Women
, St Ann’s Hospice and the Jewish Day Centre.
Harris addressed attendees at the Jewish Telegraph's 60th anniversary dinner in December 2010. Dignitaries at the event, which was held at the Radisson
Blu Hotel at Manchester International Airport
, included Bury
's Lord Mayor and Mayoress, John and Brenda Byrne.
Vivienne Harris died at her home in Broughton Park on 4 March 2011, aged 89. She remained the active financial director of the newspaper until her death. She was survived by her sons, Paul, the Jewish Telegraph's present owner and group editor
and Jonathan.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(née Hytner; born 1921, Prestwich
Prestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK — died 4 March 2011) was a British businesswoman, newspaper publisher and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who co-founded the Jewish Telegraph
Jewish Telegraph
The Jewish Telegraph is a British Jewish newspaper. It was founded in December 1950 by Frank and Vivienne Harris, the parents of the current Editor, Paul Harris.-Founding:...
in December 1950 with her husband, Frank Harris. The couple married in 1949.
Frank Harris, a freelance journalist, had relocated to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
from London. She and her husband co-founded the weekly Jewish Telegraph in the dining room
Dining room
A dining room is a room for consuming food. In modern times it is usually adjacent to the kitchen for convenience in serving, although in medieval times it was often on an entirely different floor level...
of their home in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1950. Vivienne Harris oversaw much of the newspaper's expansion from its origins as a four-page, weekly paper during the next sixty years, until 2011. Under Harris, the Jewish Telegraph expanded to four editions in four major British cities – Manchester, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Her husband and newspaper co-founder Frank Harris died in 1979. Their son, Paul, became group editor while Vivienne remained financial director and co-owner.
In June 1997, Harris was the recipient of the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for her contributions to journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and to Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. She remained the Jewish Telegraph's financial director
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
until her death in 2011. Harris was active in numerous charitable organizations, including Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
, the Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau
A Citizens Advice Bureau is one of a network of independent charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to help people with their money, legal, consumer and other problems....
of Salford, the League of Jewish Women
League of Jewish Women
The League of Jewish Women is one of the leading voluntary Jewish women’s service organisations in the United Kingdom. Affiliated to more than 30 other national and international organisations, membership is open to all Jewish men and women...
, St Ann’s Hospice and the Jewish Day Centre.
Harris addressed attendees at the Jewish Telegraph's 60th anniversary dinner in December 2010. Dignitaries at the event, which was held at the Radisson
Radisson Hotels
Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson...
Blu Hotel at Manchester International Airport
Manchester International Airport
Manchester Airport , formerly often called Ringway, is a major airport at Ringway in the City of Manchester within Greater Manchester, UK. In 2010 it was 4th busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers, and the busiest airport in the UK outside the London region...
, included Bury
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
's Lord Mayor and Mayoress, John and Brenda Byrne.
Vivienne Harris died at her home in Broughton Park on 4 March 2011, aged 89. She remained the active financial director of the newspaper until her death. She was survived by her sons, Paul, the Jewish Telegraph's present owner and group editor
Group editor
A group editor is a groupware application that allows a distributed group of human users to edit a share document over a computer network. Refer to collaborative editor....
and Jonathan.