Obituary: Reg Watts

Respected throughout his profession as the consummate master of all things related to his chosen field of commodities, he presented a dapper, well-dressed figure who demanded attention among his peers as an outstanding Reuters commodities editor. His knowledge of all things agricultural was vast, having honed it at the Public Ledger, the oldest newspaper in the world, before joining Reuters in 1954. In the late 1950s Reg opened the first City office in London right in the middle of the commodities markets.

His career in Washington began in 1965 following months in Africa where he established a network of correspondents in the commodities field. While in Washington he developed close links with three Secretaries of Agriculture - Freeman, Hardin and Butz - all of whom recognised in Reg someone who probably knew as much about their field as they did. So much so that on one occasion while travelling to Texas as part of the press corps with the Agriculture Secretary the local dignitaries mistook the confident, self-possessed, charming fellow as the Secretary himself. No-one took offence - no-one ever could with Reg.

In his role as commodities correspondent in Washington he soon achieved an almost legendary status as the man to go to for anything associated with the USDA.

When he returned to London as commodities editor he taught his juniors the importance of snow cover for crops during the winter months, how water levels on the major European rivers affected the distribution of agricultural products through the region, and the importance of obscure price messages with oddball names distributed to a dedicated customer base.

As an educator, he worked diligently with then training editor George Short and following retirement with the Reuters Foundation, lecturing on commodities reporting and preparing materials for new trainees as well as setting up visits to the major commodities exchanges and shipping institutions such as Lloyds and the Baltic Exchange.

Reg was a man of principle. That sometimes placed him in conflict with his peers and in later life with his clients in his last role as UK media manager. In Washington, he refused to join the journalists’ strike in North America. He did not believe in strikes and he could not be persuaded to change his mind. But such was the esteem he was held in by his colleagues that many secretly admired him for his stand and bore no ill will towards him. In his final role as UK media manager he believed with a passion that Reuters news should not be undervalued and treated as a commodity by the press barons. That led to some handwringing from time to time but not by Reg who savoured the ability to ride into battle to protect his beloved editorial.

He also served for many years as a committee member of The Reuter Society.

The funeral will be on Friday 27 June at 10:45 am at Hither Green crematorium, Lewisham.

PHOTO: Reg Watts at an office party in his honour in London in 1986. ■