Raising a glass to John Stephens

Dozens of colleagues of the late John Stephens gathered in London on Monday to raise a glass to him and recall anecdotes from a storied career.

Stephens was briefly a journalist and then for the rest of his time with Reuters an executive in Europe, Africa and the United States from 1959 to 1991. He died in March in Paris, where he had lived. He was 80.

“I’m pretty sure that he would approve of everybody celebrating him in a social gathering,” Sir Peter Job, former chief executive, said at the Garrick Club, adding “and he would probably approve if we didn’t make long speeches.”

Along with family members Jessica Stephens, Caroline Stephens and Sheelagh Stephens, Reuters people present included John Adams, Donald Armour, John Bartram, Krishna Biltoo, Jack Clayworth, Michael Cooling, Martin Davids, Bob Evans, Jonathan Fenby, Marcus Ferrar, Geoffrey Flynn, Daniel Fogel, John Freeman, Ronald Gladman, Claude Green, Peter Holland, Ray Hubbard, Michael Hudson, John Jessop, Peter Job, Adam Kellett-Long, Denis Lyons, Henry Manisty, Jean-Claude Marchand, Barry May, Michael Neale, Manfred Pagel, John Parcell, John Ransom, Mary Raynham, Michael Reupke, Daniel Rouget, Herbie Skeete, Peter Smith, Iain Smith, Stephen Somerville, Catherine Stewart, Mary Talbot, David Ure, André Villeneuve, Angela Wade, Nick White, Ros Wilton, Mark Wood, Philip Wood and Luiz Worsdell.

Obituary: John Stephens ■