Carried away in the back row

When I first met Jim after jumping ship from AP to Reuters in 1973 he asked me if I was related to the Pinder who once owned the Cinema in Jedburgh. I said he was my Dad. “Bastard,” said Jim. “He threw me out one night when I got a bit carried away with Bertha in the double ‘love seats’ in the back row.”

A few years later, in 1977, when I was in South Africa, Jim phoned to inform me my father had died. He was a kindly, sympathetic voice over the miles and he immediately put in train arrangements for me to fly back to Scotland for the funeral. He was one of those rarities, a good man and a fine journalist, held in affection by all who worked with him. RIP Jim - a splendid innings. ■