David Goddard - greatest rewrite man since Shakespeare

David Goddard was (probably) the greatest rewrite man since Shakespeare. We worked together for several years on the World Desk overnight in the 70s and virtually every shift was a revelation as the beaming ruddy-faced Goddard descended with a whoop on dreary, saggy copy to add flesh to dry bones. His snap-crackle-pop style worried some of the greybeards in editorial administration but it won Reuters massive play. Copy signed off DJG was often brilliant, always arresting and occasionally perhaps a bit wacky. What a delightful colleague - I never had a better one. A star has gone out. ■