Obituary - Peter Kenyon, former Equities Editor who left Reuters to pursue a 30-year political career

Peter Kenyon, a former Equities Editor who left Reuters to pursue a 30-year career in London politics, died on December 17 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 78.

Kenyon joined Reuters as a correspondent in 1977 after working in Brussels for the Sunday Times, Irish Times and BBC. After stints as a correspondent in London and Paris and then as Editor-in-Charge on the Equities Desk in Fleet St, he became European Equities Editor in 1988, later moving to be Corporate News Editor before leaving Reuters in 1993. He served as NUJ Father of the Chapel.

A passionate lifelong socialist, he made a complete change after leaving Reuters, to begin a long and successful career in politics in the capital, eventually becoming leader of the Labour Party in the City of London, and a member of the party’s National Executive Committee. He supported many charities and political causes.

A keen musician, cyclist and supporter of Arsenal football team, his proudest achievement was saving two reservoirs in the borough of Hackney from being built over. They are now a nature reserve and a water sports centre.

John Bartram, Financial Editor during the 1980s, recalled that Peter always resolutely supported his staff, maintained the highest standards for accuracy and rarely gave ground in a discussion, qualities for which he was widely respected.

Former London desker Ian Jones recalled Kenyon’s unique style of retribution for an out-of-line reporter when he was Equities Editor.

“One morning Peter arrived on the econ floor in 85 Fleet Street and a reporter sent a screen-top message to a friend on the desk swearing about him. Unfortunately, it also went to Peter. When the reporter apologized, he was ordered to go and buy a bottle of champagne. He returned and was told to get three plastic cups. They both then sat down with the other reporter and drank it.”

Another Reuters colleague, Don Nordberg, recalled: “In conversation -- these were the early Thatcher years -- Peter verged on the anti-capitalist. You didn't see that side in his copy, but his calm office rants warned us not to get captured by a market mentality.

“His was a voice that said write it straight and keep yourself out of the copy, while not believing everything you hear. Perhaps embodying that contradiction is what convinced him to leave Reuters and engage more completely with politics.”

Former correspondent Brian Mooney, a councillor in the City of London Corporation, said Peter was a diehard socialist.

“He had considerable success and organised a Labour challenge to the tradition-bound Corporation, which always prided itself on being non-party political. He broke this mould to get people elected on a Labour ticket…There are currently five Labour councillors and this is a tribute to Peter.”

Other tributes have come from many Labour colleagues, who called him a stalwart for justice and equality, a fearless defender of democracy and human rights, strategic in his thought and tactical and calm in a crisis.

David Gardner, a senior Labour councillor in the London borough of Greenwich who knew him well, said: “Peter was one of life’s agents provocateurs and always so positive…He was that necessary person in the room who would challenge and question a comfortable consensus and group think.”  

Kenyon died at his home in the Barbican surrounded by his family. He leaves his wife, four children and nine grandchildren.

His funeral will be held at 11am on January 14th at St Mary Moorfields, 4-5, Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LS. Those wishing to attend a reception afterwards should email jonokenyon@gmail.com.  ■