Many Tributes To Reuter’s Manager

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 6

Many Tributes To Reuter’s Manager

(N^PA.-Router- Coppripht)

LONDON, January 27.

Many tributes have been paid from leaders of governments and the press to Walton Adamson Cole, the general manager of Reuter’s news agency, who collapsed and died on Friday at his desk at Reuter’s Fleet Street headquarters. He was 50.

The "Guardian" said today that Mr Cole was accepted by colleagues and rivals as "the leading figure in the whole world of news agencies." The “Guardian” said in an obituary: “Striking in appearance—and his utmost efforts to reduce weight never got him to much below 19 stone—he had an ease of manner that made him acceptable to the most unlikely people. "Reuter records show that he was warmly accepted and in many cases obtained valuable concessions from people in authority throughout the world, from, for example, Peron, Nasser, and Khrushchev. It is credibly reported that President Nasser enjoyed Cole’s visits because of a resemblance that he saw to exKing Farouk. “It may be that the acknowledged probity of the Reuter service, with which he was deeply concerned, gave Cole an initial status on his visits, but it was his own genuine sincerity, his own liking for people and his remarkable memory for facts that consolidated the impression that here was an important and a truly remarkable man.” “The Times” today said: “A large man both physically and mentally. Cole’s energy seemed inexhaustible, his am-

bitions for Reuter's unlimited. “Few men can have done better deals and gained more friends. He was trusted because he made no other claim for Reuter's except the quality of its news service.” Mr Cole had recently suffered a severe bronchial attack, but appeared to be making a gradual recovery and had returned to work. Editor at 33 In a meteoric climb to the top of his profession, he achieved the editorship of the news agency when he was 33, and was only 47 when he was appointed to its executive direction as general manager. A Scot from Edinburgh, Mr Cole had years of training on Scottish newspapers. He arrived in London 27 years ago and got a job on the Press Association, Britain's domestic agency, as a reporter. Within two years he was promoted deputy news | editor, then day supervising editor. He was the Press Association's night editor J when to 1942 he was invited i to join Reuter's—then to process of reorganisation—as news manager. He played a great part in maintaining the essential services of the Press Association at the height of the blitz on London. Leader's Messages The British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) sent a message of personal sympathy on the death of Mr Cole. The West German Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) today cabled condolences to Mrs Cole. The President of Ghana (Dr. Nkrumah) cabled Reuter’s, saying: “I am really sorry to hear of the sudden death of Mr Walton Cole.” President Ayub Khan, of Pakistan, in a message of condolence, said Mr Cole was a very valuable man and "I also mourn the loss of a personal friend.” In a telegram to Mrs Cole, the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (U Thant) said: “I am deeply grieved at the passing away of Walton Cole, whom I knew for the last 15 years.” In Washington, the Slate Department spokesman, Mr Lincoln White, said: “Mr Cole will be sorely missed, not only by the Reuter agency, but by his host of friends in the United States.”

News agencies—including Tass and the Czech, Hungarian and Jugoslav agencies —and newspapers all over the world paid tribute to Mr Cole.

Mr Holyoake's Regret In Wellington, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) expressed his regret at the death of Mr Cole.

Mr Cole’s distinguished services to journalism would be sadly missed in New Zealand as throughout the world, he said. “The accuracy and reliability of Reuter's: overseas news service is greatly valued in this country; and Mr Cole played a dis-, tinctive part in enhancing its high reputation.” In Wellington, the chairman of directors of the New Zealand Press Association, Mr H. N. Blundell, said: "The passing of Mr Cole takes from us one of the most dynamic figures in the fields of journalism, communications and finance. “He was a man whose integrity and drive inspired not only those who worked under his direct control at Reuter’s but all those who were in any way associated with him in the operation of its great news service to which he dedicated his life.’’

Mr P. R. Scoble, president of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of New Zealand, said in his tribute: “It is customary to use the expression nowadays that no man is indispensable and that all are replaceable. I think the exception may be Walton Cole. It is extremely difficult to picture in one man the aggregation of talents which combined to make Walton Cole of Reuter’s.”