Former Sky News presenter dies

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Bob Friend, one of the faces who launched Sky News, has died after suffering from a brain tumour, the channel said.

Mr Friend, 70, was described by Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, as "a distinguished journalist and an admired broadcaster".

Mr Murdoch said: "Bob was a tireless worker and true to form he put up a good fight."

Mr Friend joined Sky News from its beginning and was said to enjoy telling how he had to crawl over a building site to reach the newsroom.

The channel said in a statement: "Bob Friend was one of Britain's longest-serving and much-loved presenters. A former BBC correspondent, he was with Sky News when the UK's first 24-hour news channel launched in 1989 and was for many years referred to as 'the face of Sky News'.

"Bob also had several cameo roles as a newscaster in movies like Independence Day and Mission Impossible."

Mr Friend started as a cub reporter aged 15 on the Tunbridge Wells Advertiser, covering street parties to mark the Coronation.

After nine years as a newspaper reporter, in 1969 he began a career that spanned two decades with the BBC. He joined Radio 4's Today programme and reported from Northern Ireland for four years, witnessing the resurgence of sectarian violence at the start of the Troubles.

Nick Pollard, former head of Sky News said: "He had grown into his trade, he had become a marvellous, rounded figure who had a huge depth of knowledge about the world and crucially he could convey that in an easy and familiar way to people and that's what made him a remarkable person to watch on screen."

John Ryley, head of Sky News added: "Bob was a superb broadcaster and a very special journalist. He played a crucial role in establishing Sky... He had a fantastic sense of humour and will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues."


Source:ThePressAssociation

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