Paul Dacre - Early Life

Early Life

Paul Dacre was born and grew up in the London suburb of Arnos Grove in Enfield. Dacre's father, Peter Dacre, was a prominent journalist on the Sunday Express whose work included show business features. Nigel Dacre, another son, was editor of ITV's news programmes from 1995 to 2002. Paul Dacre was educated at University College School, an independent school in Hampstead, on a state scholarship, where he was head of house. In his school holidays, Dacre worked as a messenger at the Sunday Express, and during his pre-university gap year as a trainee in the Daily Express. From 1967 he read English at the University of Leeds, where Jack Straw was President of the Student's Union, and during this period met his future wife, Kathleen, now a drama teacher.

Whilst at university, he became involved with the Leeds Student newspaper, rising to the position of editor. At this time he identified with the liberal end of the political spectrum on issues including gay rights and drug use, and wrote editorials in support of a student sit-in at Leeds organised by Jack Straw. "'If you don’t have a left-wing period when you go to university, you should be shot'", he has said. On graduation in 1971 he joined the Daily Express in Manchester for a six-month trial; subsequent to this he was given a full-time job on the Express. He once commented that "there was never any desire to do anything other than journalism".