Gentleman George

I have a number of memories about Gentleman George.

I pick out one.

As the year 1980 drew to a close, it had already been decided that George and I would both leave Reuters at the end of the year. (I actually came back a couple of years later, but that is another story.) 

I summoned/invited George into my office.

I said to him “George, I hereby give you the letter which states your pension entitlement from the Reuters Pension Fund. I wish to emphasise that I personally have had nothing to do with the setting of this figure. I personally think that it is on the generous side, and I am glad of that. But if you wish to thank someone, please don’t thank me.”

“Thank you very much," said George. ■