David Nicholson

News of Dave Nicholson’s passing quite knocked the stuffing out of me. Returning from holiday all unawares, I struggled to decipher an email from a former colleague referring to what had happened by initials only.

Something in me refused to associate death with Dave. Only a few weeks ago I sat in a huddle with him at a Reuter Society event, enjoying a glass of wine and his legendary humour and wisdom. We had discovered a shared interest in the politics of the Middle East and he gave me a spare copy of a seminal work on the subject (“1967” by Tom Segev). He’d had to buy a new one with larger print, he said.

I looked forward to his emails passing on an article he thought I should read or commenting on some incident of note.

It’s a matter of regret to me that I barely knew Dave when we were both in harness at Reuters. It was a delight to get to know him afterwards, thanks to the Short Lunch Club and Reuter Soc.

I’m very sorry to have missed the thanksgiving service and reception in his memory. My deepest sympathy to all his family and friends. ■