A JOURNALIST and writer who set a best-selling author on the road to stardom has died at the age of 95.

Margaret Parker started her career with the Amalgamated Press in London, rising from the position of office junior to chief sub editor on the woman’s weekly title Home Chat.

Her career was changed by the Second World War when she was called to serve her country as a senior inspector for the Air Ministry.

Miss Parker also worked in PR for Billy Smart’s Circus and a leading London agency, where she handled the Gas Board account.

Back in Fleet Street, she then spent 19 years at The Lady magazine, first as household editor and then editing the cookery section.

She moved to Lindfield near Haywards Heath in 1973 and commuted to London to work at Woman’s Weekly Libraries, where she shared an office with a young Minette Walters.

The pair wrote short romantic novels together to boost their income.

Walters, who went on to become a top author, said of the time: “I was deeply fond of Margaret. She was an amazing, vibrant character – quite intimidating when I got things wrong – but she taught me most of what I know about editing and writing. I would not have missed knowing and working with her for the world.”

Ms Parker retired to Burgess Hill and died peacefully in a local nursing home on February 10 with her sister at her bedside.

Her funeral will be held at Walsted Cemetery in Lindfield on March 12 at noon.