85 Fleet Street

Reuters people returned to 85 Fleet Street for a nostalgic look around the building that was the company's headquarters for 66 years.  

Some 70 members of The Reuter Society and guests toured the seventh floor board room with its view east to St Paul's Cathedral, the former managing director's office and the rotunda. The floor is now occupied by a law firm.

The tour followed a talk by John Entwisle, Thomson Reuters group archivist, on the iconic building and its architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Reuters moved into the Portland Stone building in July 1939 and remained there until June 2005 when it sold the property and moved its corporate headquarters to Canary Wharf.

After the Society’s return visit, memories of some of the idiosyncracies of the landmark building and those who worked there were recounted by Michael Nelson, Manfred Pagel, John Ransom, Anne Sebba and Stephen Somerville.

PHOTO: Diana Drayton (Reuters 1948-1988), formerly administrative assistant to the executive committee, pictured in the panelled 7th floor rotunda. ■