John Dickie

John Dickie, a veteran diplomatic correspondent, mostly for the Daily Mail, who died last month aged 98, briefly worked for Reuters in the 1950s and always had a soft spot for the Old Firm.

In many ways he epitomised the glory days of Fleet Street, impeccably dressed, always with a carnation in his buttonhole - when in London purchased at a flower stall outside Temple tube station run by an an ex-heavy of the Kray gang, and full of scoops. It was a joy to be on assignments when he was around - he could always find a bottle of Scotch (he was Scottish) in even the driest of dry countries in the Gulf, and full of tales as he scoured the souks of such places as Yemen and Oman to add to his collection of 100+ walking sticks. ■