Manfred Pagel - a kind man

I remember Manfred as a very kind man. I got to know him a little bit when I was the National Union of Journalists Mother of the Chapel and he represented management. He always listened in a reasonable way.

But most importantly, I have Manfred to thank for being able to marry my Russian fiance Costya Gagarin in 1987, when other editors wanted to sack me for "losing my objectivity". Manfred took me to his home and introduced me to his wife Barbara. He talked to me with understanding and allowed me to return to my post in Moscow, for which I am eternally grateful to him.

Manfred could see that the Cold War was coming to an end and we needed different approaches. Of course being married to a Russian gave me a great entry into Russian society and enabled me to make my name writing human interest stories about how ordinary Russians were coping with the changes after Communism. ■