Manfred Pagel - scrupulously fair

Manfred Pagel was my mentor for the first part of my career with Reuters and he remained a friend after we both left the company around the turn of the century.

He could be tough on anyone he thought was not making their mark but I always found him to be loyal and scrupulously fair, and he insisted on accuracy at all times.

When in 1980 he became editor of the merged general and economic news, I had just returned to London as financial editor and so I had a ringside seat. His main struggle was to convince some sceptical World Deskers - who saw the money-earning economic services as a threat - that he was not about to ruin their output.

Manfred was not a conciliator by temperament and at first he struggled to make this a success, but during the 1980s he did extend the general news coverage and he gradually gained acceptance.

He was a man who knew what he liked and didn’t change his habits easily. At the table that usually meant steak and chocolate mousse to sooth his sweet tooth.

It is over 25 years since we worked together but I will never forget his kindness, his hospitality and, perhaps a surprise to some, his sense of humour. ■