Obituary: Tony Cornish

Cornish joined Reuters in 1971 as one of the first communications engineers planning and developing the network for the real-time services of Stockmaster and Videomaster and into the Monitor and Dealing periods.

He was one of Glen Renfrew’s early “techies” who grew the networks on which the company’s rapid growth of world-wide sales depended so much. Principally based in Europe, he became international communications manager in the 1970s in Europe but travelled extensively and was one of many much-appreciated engineers known in all departments of Reuters.

From 1981 until 1994 he worked closely with Peter Smith who led the International Communications Group (ICG) set up by Renfrew to develop satellite and broadband communications and negotiate the use of the new technologies with postal, telegraph and telephone (PTT) services in many countries.

Peter Smith writes: Tony was a close and trusted friend. He fulfilled the deputy role with a selflessness and dedication that helped ICG to achieve its goals for almost a decade and a half. He provided the engineering background, a knowledge of the evolving technologies and the communicating skills to spread the knowledge. He played an important part for Reuters to the world outside, participating in the International Telecommunications Users Group (INTUG) which enabled radical change in the international telecommunications industry throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Tony was a much liked person and a ready mentor for anyone who needed advice or help. He was the complete ‘people person’.

In his 50s Cornish took up a lifelong ambition to fly and went on to become a qualified instructor, continuing a second late career after his retirement. Shortly before giving up his flying role he was involved in a forced landing in a field in Kent following an engine failure. He stepped out with a quivering “L licence” co-pilot and calmly rang his clubhouse to inform them of their whereabouts.

Cornish’s younger brother Mike worked for Reuters for many years as a computer engineer. ■