Ron Sly

Ron Sly was a good friend, and not just at the office. There were the Christmas parties at Epsom, Ron and Morag at their most convivial, some of the regulars (Ron Thomson, Dave Mathew, Dave Nicholson and others now also sadly departed). And the poetry readings, Ron re-living earlier days on stage. And in post-Reuter days, his return from a world tour, bronzed and bearded. We remained in touch and a few months ago, to my pleasure, I received a sheaf of his poems (entitled “Random Musings of an Off-Duty Copytaster”) and an enjoyable account of his life before Reuters. Born into a Quaker family (and his father’s news agency!), in his own words “I routinely spent some Saturdays and school holiday time telephoning, delivering copy to Fleet Street. My mother and two sisters scoured the papers for Sly’s court reports and totted up the linage”. He left school at 16 on a Friday and started work the next Monday at 85 Fleet Street, “trotting around with PA reporters”. And then he turned actor and joined a touring repertory company, performing in factory canteens, miners’ halls and RAF camps...” There’s much more (about 2,000 words), all fascinating stuff, and I’d be happy to send a copy to anyone who’d like to remember Ron. ■