Mr Alan Mitchell

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 27

Mr Alan Mitchell

NZPA London Mr Alan Mitchell, who was the New Zealand Press Association's correspondent in London for 23 years, has died suddenly in Majorca. Spain. He was 73. Mr Mitchell, who had had lived there in retirement, was London correspondent of the New Zealand Associated Press from 1936 to 1946, and for NZPA from 1942 to 1965. He was a war correspondent for NZPA during World War II and travelled extensively with the New Zealand High Commissioner, the late Sir William Jordan. Among the many press conferences Mr Mitchell attended was the one given by General Dwight Eisenhower shortly before D Day and the invasion of Europe in June, 1944. Mr Mitchell, born and educated in England, went to New Zealand when he was 16 and worked on farms before

he became a journalist on the “Wanganui chronicle." He returned to London in 1935 and worked for New Zealand Associated Press, whose members are the “New Zealand Herald." the “Evening Star," “The Press.” and the “Otago Daily Times." After retiring from NZPA in 1965. Mr Mitchell worked for a public relations firm in London. He was an active member of the Commonwealth Press Union and chairman of its telecommunications committee from 1955 to 1969. He was also vice-chairman of the International Press Telecommunications Council. Mr Mitchell wrote several books, and was a former chairman of the London-New Zealand Cricket Club. He was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to journalism. He is survived by his wife, who was Jean Mcllvride, of Wanganui, and a son and daughter.