Gordon Martin

Delighted to see the piece about my old colleague and fellow Lancastrian Gordon Martin, still hammering it out at the Palais des Nations [At 86, Gordon Martin still bashes it out on a typewriter]. Our paths first crossed half a century ago, when I was correspondent in Copenhagen, Gordon in Oslo. We visited each other’s territory a few times, mainly for social reasons. There were always young ladies about. Our paths diverged thereafter, then he turned up in Cairo for the BBC and I arranged a room for him in our offices in Shara Sherif. He still had an eye for the ladies. Here he was again in Geneva in the eighties, but couldn’t find room for him in our offices, so he had to make do with a desk in the general newsroom, as pictured, becoming a popular figure in press circles and president of the Foreign Press Association. I haven’t seen him for some years, but watch out, Gordon, I may be turning up before you retire. We will each have a few stories to tell. I share your impatience with modern communications technology, but do have a laptop! All the very best. ■