Obituary: Terry Williams

British-born Terry had a three decades long career with Reuters, much of it spent in Paris and Brussels bureaux but also including postings in the Caribbean and Africa, Tony Winning writes. He was the go-to man for sports in Paris bureau in the late 1960s and 70s, with particular expertise in covering the annual Tour de France cycle race.

He also handled tennis and knew a number of the players competing at the Roland Garros French Open back in the day, likewise the then Five (now Six) Nations rugby tournament and motor racing - the historic Le Mans 24 hour sports car race and numerous F1 Grands Prix. In between, there were multiple Olympic Games, Munich, Seoul and Los Angeles among others.

After Paris Terry had a spell in Barbados as Reuters man in the Caribbean and in the 1980s headed up the Africa Desk in Nairobi, which handled African news in both English and French. He completed his Reuters career in the busy Brussels bureau where he filed the high volume of news coming out of the European Union. 

After his retirement, Terry moved with his French wife Yolande to their dream home in the wild and spectacular Lozere, France’s most sparsely populated department. There they entertained a steady stream of old friends and colleagues who enjoyed Yo’s incomparable cuisine and Terry’s generous hospitality. ■