Cambridge honours 'flamboyant, vibrant' David Chipp

Chipp, who died in September 2008 aged 81, was a correspondent and editor from 1950 until 1969 when he left to become editor-in-chief of the Press Association, national news agency of the UK and Ireland. As an old China hand, he regarded the 30 months he spent in Peking for Reuters from 1956 to 1958 as the high point of his life.

A graduate of King’s, he was a benefactor of its chapel and an enthusiastic supporter of its boat club. After retirement his many interests included a period as director of the Reuter Foundation.

The provost of King’s, Professor Ross Harrison, recalled Chipp’s puckish charm and said more than £20,000 had been raised through donations in his memory for the college’s supplementary exhibition fund to provide welfare support for students and books.

After Saturday's Evensong a reception given by the provost provided the occasion for the launch of Mao’s Toe: Memoirs of David Chipp, A Serious Correspondent, published posthumously by his estate in a private edition of 500 copies. The title derives from two compliments paid to Chipp by the Chinese leadership.

• In October 1956, when he was the first non-communist Western correspondent resident in Peking since the 1949 communist takeover, Chipp inadvertently stepped back onto the foot of chairman Mao Zedong. The Great Helmsman’s immediate response was one of huge amusement. He roared with laughter and afterwards referred to Chipp as “Lacquered Defender of Morals”. To this day, there are still a few people in China who refer to him as “the Englishman who trod on Chairman Mao’s toe and got away with it”, Chipp recounts in the book.
• The second part of the title is drawn from a remark by premier Zhou Enlai who was interviewed by Chipp and who apparently told a colleague, “We like Mr Chipp. He is very interested in everything about China; he gets a lot wrong; and is always laughing and joking. But he is a very serious correspondent.” Chipp was delighted and later wrote: “A serious correspondent: as a reporter, I find that the greatest compliment I have ever been paid, and can think of no better epitaph.”

Reuters people at the service included Diana Drayton, Robert Elphick, John Entwisle, Anthony Grey, Adam Kellett-Long, Barry May, Michael Neale, Michael Nelson, Manfred Pagel, Timothy Pearce, John Ransom, David Schlesinger, David Sells, Peter Smith, Stephen Somerville, Tom Thomson and Donald Read, author of Reuters’ official history, The Power of News. ■