Ron Sly
Ron Sly
Friday 21 January 2011
Ron Sly was a good friend, and not just at the office. There were the Christmas parties at Epsom, Ron and Morag at their most convivial, some of the regulars (Ron Thomson, Dave Mathew, Dave Nicholson and others now also sadly departed). And the poetry readings, Ron re-living earlier days on stage. And in post-Reuter days, his return from a world tour, bronzed and bearded. We remained in touch and a few months ago, to my pleasure, I received a sheaf of his poems (entitled “Random Musings of an Off-Duty Copytaster”) and an enjoyable account of his life before Reuters. Born into a Quaker family (and his father’s news agency!), in his own words “I routinely spent some Saturdays and school holiday time telephoning, delivering copy to Fleet Street. My mother and two sisters scoured the papers for Sly’s court reports and totted up the linage”. He left school at 16 on a Friday and started work the next Monday at 85 Fleet Street, “trotting around with PA reporters”. And then he turned actor and joined a touring repertory company, performing in factory canteens, miners’ halls and RAF camps...” There’s much more (about 2,000 words), all fascinating stuff, and I’d be happy to send a copy to anyone who’d like to remember Ron.
John Chadwick
John Chadwick
Ron Sly
Monday 17 January 2011
Ron's hesitant manner and diffident nature concealed a top class news brain and tight writing style which forged an enviable reputation at both Reuters and The Associated Press, where he was also a senior editor for many years. He was a thoroughly decent man who went to endless lengths to help young journalists establish themselves in often unfriendly territory.
To those of us trained in the provinces the name was instantly familiar through the widely-known Sly's News Agency, which fed media organisations throughout the UK with London-dated news items, particularly court cases and inquests. Ron's father Eric, a Quaker, was the proprietor.
When he retired in the mid-1980s, Ron took his devoted wife Morag on a grand tour of the Far East during which he bade farewell to colleagues in several countries. We couldn't help noticing that Ron, for whom a half pint of bitter was taken on only the most special of occasions throughout his career, had developed an entirely new relationship with the amber nectar. He was last seen gambolling down a beach on Bali, long white beard flowing and beer-can in hand.
Paul Smurthwaite
To those of us trained in the provinces the name was instantly familiar through the widely-known Sly's News Agency, which fed media organisations throughout the UK with London-dated news items, particularly court cases and inquests. Ron's father Eric, a Quaker, was the proprietor.
When he retired in the mid-1980s, Ron took his devoted wife Morag on a grand tour of the Far East during which he bade farewell to colleagues in several countries. We couldn't help noticing that Ron, for whom a half pint of bitter was taken on only the most special of occasions throughout his career, had developed an entirely new relationship with the amber nectar. He was last seen gambolling down a beach on Bali, long white beard flowing and beer-can in hand.
Paul Smurthwaite
Ron Sly
Monday 17 January 2011
In the mid nineties Ron and I went to Warsaw to train aspiring TV journalists. The youngsters were charmed by Ron's easy going good humour and expertise. They hung on his every word. He got a round of applause from the group when he spoke a couple of Polish phrases that he had learned while he was there. He received fanmail from the students long after he left Warsaw.
Rick Norsworthy
Rick Norsworthy
Ron Sly
Sunday 16 January 2011
I picture Ron in the copytaster slot on World Desk in the late 1970s. He was unfailingly cheerful and calm in that hot seat, and another one – the trouble-shooting copy editor's chair sandwiched between the filing editor and assistant filing editor. There, his task was to grapple with poorly presented or potentially dangerous “attention editor” stories. He never lost his cool. The worst I ever heard him say was: “Oh dearie me!” – and even then only under his breath.
Graham Colville
Graham Colville
Ron Sly
Saturday 15 January 2011
He was one of the real gems of this weary world. Many adjectives about him leap to mind: gentle, thoughtful, considerate, patient, cooperative, amusing and, of course, highly intelligent. I worked closely with him for 20-odd years and held him in high regard.
Dave Betts
Dave Betts
Ron Sly
Saturday 15 January 2011
Ron enjoyed the respect and affection of all of us who worked with him. We all experienced his unflappable kindness and knew that the chattering teacup in his hand did not signify any unsteadiness of skill or personality.
Jim Anderson
Jim Anderson
Ron Sly
Saturday 15 January 2011
I was saddened to hear of Ron Sly's death. I was alerted by Vicky Hartzman, who 'phoned me, recalling my telling her some time back that my late wife, Eileen, many moons ago had worked with Ron at Ron's father's Court Reporting Agency in London.
The agency, a small but very active business, operated out of a shop in Gray’s Inn Road, not far from the then Kemsley Building (later The Sunday Times). They covered all the courts in the area, serving all the nationals and a good number of locals and provincials.
I met Eileen through her frequent calls to the Kemsley and Sunday Times newsrooms with copy for the Kemsley group. Ron's father was a Quaker and something of an eccentric. I can recall passing the time of day with Ron on occasions all those years ago (the early 1950s) when I went to meet Eileen after work. We met again, certainly to my surprise, on the desk at 85 Fleet Street when I returned to the fold after a number of Middle Eastern postings and other diversions.
Terry Blunsum
The agency, a small but very active business, operated out of a shop in Gray’s Inn Road, not far from the then Kemsley Building (later The Sunday Times). They covered all the courts in the area, serving all the nationals and a good number of locals and provincials.
I met Eileen through her frequent calls to the Kemsley and Sunday Times newsrooms with copy for the Kemsley group. Ron's father was a Quaker and something of an eccentric. I can recall passing the time of day with Ron on occasions all those years ago (the early 1950s) when I went to meet Eileen after work. We met again, certainly to my surprise, on the desk at 85 Fleet Street when I returned to the fold after a number of Middle Eastern postings and other diversions.
Terry Blunsum
Ron Sly
Saturday 15 January 2011
Ron's gentleness and decency made him stand out, especially in the Fleet St context. Gwen and I got to know him and Morag well on two short-term desk postings he had, one to New York and one in Hong Kong, the latter after he had retired and was on a round-the-world trip but was pressed into holiday relief service on the Asia Desk. They were very lively and great fun. Morag in particular had a host of colourful stories about their acting days.
In recent years when we visited them in Hertford Ron's devotion to Morag was unstinting.
Michael Hughes
In recent years when we visited them in Hertford Ron's devotion to Morag was unstinting.
Michael Hughes
Ron Sly
Saturday 15 January 2011
Ron Sly was almost unprecedented in our high pressure, sometimes tantrum filled competitive world of journalism: though he had the voice of a great actor, he never raised it.
Renowned throughout Reuters as the most solid and reliable of deskmen, he was even better known as having the sweetest disposition in the business. Maybe that was because his abiding interests were the theatre and poetry. So, in a line he would have known well, “Goodnight, sweet prince.”
Jack Hartzman
Renowned throughout Reuters as the most solid and reliable of deskmen, he was even better known as having the sweetest disposition in the business. Maybe that was because his abiding interests were the theatre and poetry. So, in a line he would have known well, “Goodnight, sweet prince.”
Jack Hartzman
David Nicholson
Monday 03 August 2009
Dave Nicholson was the gentle giant of the World Desk. He was a delight to work with and a great source of knowledge about so many things – all invaluable attributes of the ideal Chief Sub.
I was scanning the Baronial website the other day and came across an old article about Mrs Moon's and George Short (or maybe that's in reverse order). Dave immediately came to mind.
Came 8pm on the World Desk night shift and the desk "heavies" took their "meal" break in Mrs Moon's (which was hardly known for its food).
There, ranged down from the top end of the bar next to the stairs – steps many outsiders failed to complete on receipt of Mrs Moon's traditional cry of "You're barred!" – regularly stood Jack Hartzman, Ron Thomson, Cy Fox, Dave Betts, Ron Sly, "Big Dave" Mathew and other kings of the night including, of course, Dave Nicholson.
Where Jack always had his Scotch, Dave had his pints – quite often two at a time. His imposing frame had an imposing capacity for the ale. The pints flowed smoothly down, with nary a swallow, to no apparent effect other than to add fuel to the warmth of Dave's signature laugh. So much enjoyment was obtained, and so much knowledge and experiences shared, on those night desk breaks that – just occasionally – they may have extended beyond their allotted hour...
Cheers, Dave!
Rodney Pinder
I was scanning the Baronial website the other day and came across an old article about Mrs Moon's and George Short (or maybe that's in reverse order). Dave immediately came to mind.
Came 8pm on the World Desk night shift and the desk "heavies" took their "meal" break in Mrs Moon's (which was hardly known for its food).
There, ranged down from the top end of the bar next to the stairs – steps many outsiders failed to complete on receipt of Mrs Moon's traditional cry of "You're barred!" – regularly stood Jack Hartzman, Ron Thomson, Cy Fox, Dave Betts, Ron Sly, "Big Dave" Mathew and other kings of the night including, of course, Dave Nicholson.
Where Jack always had his Scotch, Dave had his pints – quite often two at a time. His imposing frame had an imposing capacity for the ale. The pints flowed smoothly down, with nary a swallow, to no apparent effect other than to add fuel to the warmth of Dave's signature laugh. So much enjoyment was obtained, and so much knowledge and experiences shared, on those night desk breaks that – just occasionally – they may have extended beyond their allotted hour...
Cheers, Dave!
Rodney Pinder
