Diana Drayton - efficient, reliable and utterly discreet

Diana Drayton had standards and principles. She was of the old school. Efficient, reliable and utterly discreet. She also had a ready smile and a sense of humour.

I scarcely knew her in her prime at Reuters, mostly before my time. I was working in editorial, mainly abroad, but I knew the legend. Diana was the human face of the 7th floor, the person you could approach for practical advice on the mysteries of senior management. Not secrets or gossip, of course, but where to go for answers, to get things done.

In retirement Diana used her organising skills as secretary to the Reuter Society, supporting our founding chairman, Aleco Joannides. Before my time again, but she was a legend there too, and continued to attend our meetings until, it seems, very recently. She will be greatly missed in the Society and the community of old Reuters hands. ■