Death of Alan Thomas

ALAN THOMAS

I'm sorry to report that Alan Thomas, a retired Reuters correspondent and news editor, died on Tuesday of a suspected heart attack.

Alan was one of our finest news editors - when I joined in Asia in 1987 it was after his time there, but people still spoke of his skills and knowledge with awe. He lived in Cornwall but was regularly in London where he maintained contact with many old friends through various groups. Shortly after marrying Mary, he was posted to Moscow at the start of a global career that saw him serve in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He bore so much tragedy in his life with the sudden death at an early age of his youngest son Luke and then his first-born James, but with immense courage, he and Mary gradually picked up the pieces. He was a lovely man whose generous spirit, charm and wit will be greatly missed by all those that knew him.

DAVID SCHLESINGER
Editor-in-Chief

Reuters News ■