I remember waking up on that morning in 1997 to hear the news that Princess Diana had died following a fatal car crash in Paris.

As a press photographer I was bound to be the target of public outrage because she had been targeted by paparazzi during her life and just before her death.

Having said that I had just bought a new house and had booked a week off work to settle in so I did not face any resulting flak.

Fast forward 10 years and I had retrained as a reporter and was working for the Scarborough Evening News.

However, I was surprised when my news editor did not realise the significance of the 10th anniversary of her death until literally the very last minute.

Having said that myself and my fellow reporter Susan Stephenson managed to produce this tribute – but my part was just trawling through the archives but still recording history.

‘Immediately, people were charmed by her’

YESTERDAY marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed after a car crash in Paris. It was an event which united the nation in grief. IAN DUNCAN looks back at the coverage in the Evening News while SUSAN STEPHENSON talks to people from Scarborough about their memories of the event and the person.

PRINCESS Diana Killed In Car Crash – that was the stark headline, with a solemn black border, of the Scarborough Evening News front page on Sunday August 31 1997.

It was one of the few occasions when the paper published a special Sunday edition – a decision normally reserved for major local, national and international news events.

Most people woke to the news from special broadcasts on the morning and the Evening News carried four pages of reports of events surrounding the tragedy.

The paper concentrated on the early reports and carried a statement from Buckingham Palace which read: “The Queen and the Prince of Wales are deeply shocked and distressed by the terrible news. Other members of the Royal Family are being informed.”

It also carried a youthful picture of the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP, who described her as the “People’s Princess” while addressing the assembled media in his Sedgefield constituency.

On Monday September 1, the paper carried a total of 11 pages dedicated to Princess Diana including an eight-page supplement which chronicled her life.

Catherine Cunningham, an Evening News reporter, spoke of her memories of meeting the princess at the age of 14.

She said: “My most vivid memory of that day was the moment Diana entered the room with a huge smile on her face.

“Immediately people were charmed by her friendliness.”

Cllr Eileen Bosomworth said she had heard the news on the radio at 5am on the Sunday morning. She said: “I thought I was dreaming. it was so tragic. It seemed as though she was at a point in her life where she had found someone who would care for her and love her.”

On the Tuesday (September 2) it was reported that most shops and supermarkets would be closed until after the funeral.

Churches in the Scarborough area would hold memorial services and many entertainments and fundraising events would be cancelled as a mark of respect.

Wednesday’s front page announced that a book of condolence had been opened in Scarborough Town Hall. Later in the week people would queue for 90 minutes to record their thoughts and messages.

Cllr Brian Wormald, Scarborough’s mayor at the time, said: “The depth of feeling in Scarborough is enormous. I would hope as many people as possible come and sign our book. I don’t mind if all Scarborough comes in.”

Kerry Allison, who was then 23, spoke on the Thursday of receiving a special letter from the princess after she wrote wishing her well for the Royal Wedding in 1981. She urged Scarborough to build a place of memory in her honour.

There was also a row over North Yorkshire County Council’s decision to open the town’s libraries on the Saturday.

On the Friday the mother of charity worker Paul Heslop spoke of her son’s memories of Diana after he met her in Angola.

Judith Heslop, of Goathland, said her son had just phoned out of the blue when she broke the news.

She said: ”He said he thought she was very brave and had more confidence in going into landmine areas than a lot of people.”

On September 8 the front page had a report from the memorial service which was held in the Queen Street Methodist Central Hall which held at least 1000 people and was broadcast on local radio.

‘As soon as she walked into a room all eyes focused on her’

COUNCILLOR Tom Fox, leader of Scarborough Council, was a police chief inspector when he met Princess Diana.

He said: “I met her a few times through organising Royal visits in the county, though she didn’t come to Scarborough. It was an absolute delight to work with and for her. She was very natural with people.

“The night she died I was called out to a firearms incident in Trafalgar Square in Scarborough. I got home at 4am sat down with a cup of tea to discover the breaking news. I watched it instead of going to bed and went straight to work the next day.”

Cllr David Jeffels, portfolio holder for tourism and leisure, said: “I was in her presence at the World Travel Market at Earl’s Court about two years before she died. As soon as she walked into room all the eyes focused on her. She had charisma – there was no doubt about it.

“I was also down in London on the Thursday night before her funeral on Saturday.

“I found myself outside St James’ Palace and then drifted with crowds of people up to Kensington Palace. There was such an atmosphere – it was so quiet but there were hundreds of people there. Candles were lit all around the trees. I can honestly say it was probably the most moving experience of my life. It had to be seen to be experienced.”

Scarborough’s mayor Janet Jefferson said: “I was devastated when Diana died – I’m a real Royal fan.

“We went to London after her death and visited Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. The flowers at Kensington Abbey looked like a lake – the sight will stay with me all my life.

“The aroma was incredible and the atmosphere was very emotional.”

Scarborough’s MP Robert Goodwill said: “I turned on breakfast TV in bed and just kept the TV on all day. I thought it was such a desperate shame that somebody that the whole nation had taken to their hearts was taken away like that.

“If she had lived I’m sure she would be very proud to see how her boys had grown up and served their country in the Army.”

From the Evening News on Saturday September 1 2007.