The Thomson Foundation regrets to announce that Russell Lyne, former Head of Regional Development, has died aged 65.
Russell first worked for the Foundation as a trainer in 1995, later joining full time as a project manager and training consultant.
His work took him to South Africa, Botswana, India, Vietnam, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Qatar, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kasakhstan, Romania and Bulgaria. Widely respected wherever he went, Russell’s engaging personality, warmth and professionalism are remembered with particular fondness in Eastern Europen by the many journalists he personally trained.
Before joining the Thomson Foundation, Russell had a long and impressive career in journalism, spanning newspapers, radio and television. After working as night news editor for the Western Mail, the daily newspaper for Wales, between 1976 and 1978, he formed his own freelance news agency before joining the BBC as chief news assistant for BBC Radio Wales in 1982.
Russell went on spend to a year as a producer for BBC Radio Four’s Today programme in 1983. He later became a senior producer for BBC Radio Wales, leaving to join HTV as news editor in 1987, where he eventually became programme controller of news and sport.
Russell had been in poor health after suffering a stroke over two years ago. He leaves a wife, Gloria, and their two daughters, Kate and Clare.
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RUSSELL LYNE – A TRIBUTE
FROM: Michael Delahaye, Adelaide, Australia
My first contact with Russell was, appropriately, in a pub restaurant in Marlborough – with former TF Broadcasting Controller Ian Masters acting as ‘mine host’. It was spring 2000. We were there to discuss a project in the Caucasus, to be conducted jointly with the American training NGO, Internews. Russell had famously pioneered a six-week television course in the Ukraine and I, still very much a trainer-in-training, had done only a week or two here and there in various former Soviet republics. The idea was to take Russell’s six-week model and apply it to the countries of the Caucasus: Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. Russell would lead, with me in the role of ‘sweeper’.
One of the Caucasian countries flatly refused to implement the new course, arguing that six weeks was far too long. Russell, as project leader, was despatched to face up to the Internews Director in question and spell out the blunt truth: agree to the course or risk future USAID funding. The encounter was a bruising one that ended with metaphorical blood on the carpet. Very reluctantly, the Internews Director agreed to the course but, arguing that personal relations with Russell had been irreparably damaged, only on condition that someone else conducted it. By default, I was that someone – and very mindful that this was Russell’s ‘baby’, the course he had personally pioneered, developed and perfected.
In the event, no-one could have been more generous. Having never done anything longer than two weeks, I felt totally unprepared to conduct a course that, apart from the classroom training, included ten TV news bulletins to be produced by the trainees themselves and broadcast on a local outlet.
The first course was launched in November 2000 and I well remember every day during the six weeks sending Russell panicky emails, along the lines of: ‘Help! What do I do now?’. Most people in his situation would have been tempted to respond, ‘You got the job – you work out how to do it!’. Not Russell. He answered my every email – invariably by return – and, no question, he saved my bacon. As I told him afterwards, I had felt like the amateur pilot who had been called on to take the controls of a commercial airliner, totally dependent on him, in the control tower, to guide me down from 30,000 feet. I wasn’t exaggerating. Thanks to Russell, both pilot and passengers survived.
Russell Lyne was much more than a good trainer; he was that rare thing, a good man.
Russell was the inspiration behind the Inquirer Award project. His enthusiasm and understated sense of humour and his ability to adapt to the working conditions of so many different cultures and traditions is truly unique. He believed in the value of local expertise and that is why I am now part of the Thomson Foundation team. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to work with Russell. My deepest condolences to his family.
I wonder how many of you were aware of Russell’s military responsibilities? In 1995 Russell and I ran a TF course in Riga, Latvia. At the end we were treated as guests-of-honour by the Latvian Army, which had its own camera crew. The army often lent the crew to Latvian TV’s desperately underfunded newsroom. At the end of our day with the army we were both given honorary membership of the Latvian Home Guard (their equivalent of the TA) and received cap and shoulder badges and certificates. At the airport the next day the baggage scanner picked up the steel cap badges and an explanation was demamded. Our sign-up papers were in order and the bemused officials returned the badges and allowed us to board the flight home. It was a pleasure and privilege to have served with him ……
Remembering Russell
“Allo, mate! How’s it going?”
Russell’s invariable daily greeting, wherever we found ourselves – in the TF office, or anywhere on a training mission together.
I’m happy, and proud, that I was in part responsible for introducing him to TF such a long time ago, and for his friendship throughout the time we both worked there.
We all know how hard he worked, what enthusiasm he put into everything asked of him. Writing project proposals, negotiating internationally, delivering training and consultancy, and in his own time, enjoying life to the full.
What memories! Sliding around the pavements in a frozen Kiev in mid-winter and losing our keys at midnight; taking incredible car journeys across Belarus; spending the day at a secret military base, doing target practice; sitting (with John Boileau) in a Riga restaurant devoid of guests except for us, with a classical quartet on stage, in full evening dress and playing American classics; having a gun pulled on us – twice, once by a friend, and seeing Russell’s eyes, popping wide, as he said: “I reckon we’ve got some trouble here!” And so many more silly stories and anecdotes….
Or, sitting in the office, while he worked on a last-minute project proposal, cursing the computer for all it did wrongly, while pounding out on the keyboard. He never understood it was not a typewriter, with no need to thump the keys!
His delivery on the ‘class-room’ floor was always to be admired: the way he teased his audience, the way he got them involved in learning, his tricks to open them up to what they really wanted to express, his encouragement – and his discipline. Watching him at work was like watching a conjuror; there was always, you knew, a media rabbit about to pop out of the hat.
And, on a personal level, a great friend and confidant, full of jokes and sharp, often acerbic, wit. Someone you could turn to for advice, worth listening to – if he wasn’t on his mobile, that is! I never met anyone who used his phone so much.
Now, that phone is silent.
This pocket dynamo of zest for life, enthusiasm, fun and hard work, is gone. But, my host of memories will live on, as they will for so many – his family, his friends and colleagues, and all those people whom he touched, across the globe.
It was hard to think of the Thomson Foundation without Russell Lyne when he was so cruelly struck down a couple of years ago. Now it is even more difficult to realise there’ll not be another chance to hear the call ” Pint of Brains…Tidy”.
Just change the name of the brew and it’s a call that’s known in many parts of the world – from the Irish Bar in Tbilisi, Georgia, to the “Bull and Bush” in Gaborone, Botswana. It meant the day’s work – wherever it might be – was over and it was time to socialise and enjoy a pint.
Russell worked hard and socialised hard. He was the journalist’s journalist. I first met him in 1966 when we both found ourselves as stringers for PA covering one of the biggest stories we would ever confront – the Aberfan disaster.It was the designated patch of neither of us, but , as pushy, inexperienced young reporters we wanted part of the action. We worked out who should do what – yes, you’ve guessed it – over a pint in a pub in Merthyr Tydfil.
We would not work again together until the 1990’s – Russell as a project manager and I as a consultant for the Thomson Foundation. We worked on a number of projects together and Russell’s support and advice from head office was invalauable. He came out to Botswana with me to set up a current affairs show and his hard work and enthusiasm were infectious. He sorted out a number of the difficulties which face consultants abroad for myself and many others – and he always stood back from the limelight when things worked well and was ready to take the brickbats if things went badly.
All in all, a superb bloke whose talents for both work and play will be greatly missed. Many of us will raise a glass to his memory…
Editor’s note: This is a personal tribute by IAN MASTERS, former Controller Broadcasting, Thomson Foundation, originally posted here
Russell and I first met in 1994. I liked everything about this small, rotund man but his height was the only thing “small” about Russell. As a professional he was a giant. At the time I was leading a team of ten TF television and radio journalists I had selected to teach the South African Broadcasting Corporation how to cover their first democratic election. Nelson Mandela was soon to take power.
Russell joined the Johannesburg team and immediately fell in love with the training / consultancy business. He did it extremely well backed by his huge knowledge of both TV and radio journalism. His students adored him and his fellow trainers were proud to have him in the team.
Russell soon became a mainstay. Botswana, Ukraine, India, Belarus, Serbia, Croatia were a tiny handful of the many countries he worked for us.
When working in Belarus he actually befriended the government agent who was put on his tail during a month of work in the regions. Realizing he was being followed he simply went and asked the guy if he’d like to join him for a drink….. or two. When the agent cold no longer stand up Russell wished him goodnight and went to bed. He was full of mischief.
Russell took on huge amounts of work both in the field – he loved that most of all – and back at headquarters where he devised many successful projects.
The sadness of his long illness touched us all. He will be deeply missed.
Ian Masters, former Controller Broadcasting, TF.
Editor’s note: This is a personal tribute by JOHN SHONE, originally posted here
Russ was a very good friend and colleague for nearly 30 years. I first knew him when he was on the newsdesk at the Western Mail and I was a stringer. Then, we worked together at the BBC and, later, he was instrumental in my joining his team at HTV Wales as North Wales news editor. I was proud and privileged to be part of that team and even though we largely worked 150 miles apart — he in Cardiff, myself in Mold — we enjoyed a close working relationship. Indeed, my years with Russell were among the most enjoyable and satisfying of nearly 50 years in journalism.
Russ was just a year older than me and our career paths had crossed as teenagers, when I worked as a 15-year-old copy boy at the Daily Herald’s offices in London while he was working at the newspaper’s Cardiff office. It was to be another 20 years before we met and began working together.
I found him to be a true inspiration — a totally dedicated professional who knew how to get the best out of his team while creating a working atmosphere in which we had a lot of fun, even when — to quote one of his favourite phrases — we were “on the ledge.”
Russ could be a hard taskmaster, but outside the office, over a pint or two, he was most entertaining company. We had some hilarious times together, particularly at ITV news editors’ conferences where the drinking went on all night.
We still kept in touch after he left HTV and I really appreciated the opportunity he gave me to spend two memorable weeks running training sessions for local radio station managers and journalists in Ukraine.
I know many journalists in high places who owe their careers to Russell’s fatherly guidance and the high standards he set. For those who knew how hard he worked and what he gave to us all, it was so distressing to see him struck down by a stroke at such a relatively young age..and with so much more to give. But he still talked with optimism and his great wit and wicked humour never waned.
Russ, in his own self-deprecating way, used to refer to himself as a “little Gwenty.” But,as Ian says, he was a real giant in journalism and we loved him for the way he made us laugh and drove us all to achieve so much more than we ever thought we could. He was a great friend, an inspiring leader…a wonderful guy. We’ll miss him very much.
I knew Russell in the Pen & Wig in Cathays where he was a character and respected by locals and students in media from the world over. A great gentleman and entertainer and always proud to be Welsh. His command of English was impecable as was his knowledge of Wales and the Welsh. The driest of humour, you would smile after 5 seconds in his presence. My sympathy not only to his wife and daughters but to all his friends and colleagues who like me feel the loss of a great character. Remember the “Gentleman’s Paternum!!” which only the few can put into context with his humour. We will all miss you as a good friend Russell. RIP
I first met Russell when he was at HTV. He was unusual because he was always very interested in the training of young journalists. Countless times he came to help mould and shape the aspiring journalists on the Broadcast diploma course at Cardiff University. He was a great friend to us all who taught on the course. He always had time for us and provided his considerable knowledge of journalism to the groups of students we had over the years. He enjoyed every minute with them.
It was very natural for him to find his place at the Thomson Foundation where his input to the organisation was considerable. He worked tirelessly in the development of journalism training around the world.
He was a real inspirational figure to all who met and worked with him. A fantastic hack who knew his craft inside out. Someone who set high standards and of course expected everyone to have the same.
Journalism in Wales and the World will be the loser with his passing. For he was someone who still had so much more to give.
We will always remember you Russell. Cheers.
Russell was news bulletin editor (or Chief News Assistant as the BBC used to call them in those days) when I joined Radio Wales in 1986, my first broadcasting job after training on newspapers.
He was a master of the craft, a beacon of professionalism in a pretty chaotic setup. His sense of fun and dedication made it worth coming to work in the morning – and arriving at 5.30 to be ready for the early bulletins. His turn of phrase was uniquely Russell – after a particularly stressful bulletin he would come back from the studio and say, “I was really on the commode in there”.
It was scary to be at the wrong end of his criticism but that made you want to do the job right – because you knew his only interest was competence and good journalism, so if he yelled at you, you deserved it.
Once you earned his respect, he was unshakeably loyal and helpful. A great loss and shame he did not have a chance to enjoy a long retirement after giving so much to so many.
The late Russell Lyne was a very dear and great friend of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI). On behalf of Thomson Foundation and as Head of Regional Partnership of TF then he signed a MoU with MPI on 22nd of May 2007 in Kuala Lumpur. While in Kuala Lumpur, he conducted a training programme for us at the end of May 2007 – one in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Kuching, Sarawak. Both were well attended and participants were greatly impressed with his knowledge of journalism.
I first met Russell just after Christmas in Cardiff in 2006 when every one else at TF was on long leave. He was introduced to me via email of couse by Janet Boston, the director of TF. Although it was the first time we met, but he was such a warm and jovial person that made me feel at home during the meeting we had to discuss inter alia joint training programmes.
Then he took me for lunch of fish and chip at the nearby restaurant. And he agreed to come to KL in May the next year to conduct a training programme for Malaysian journalists.
In Kuching we had fun visited the Sarawak Cultural Village and we also went cruising the Sarawak river.
When he went back, we kept in touch through his mobile and a few weeks later we at MPI failed to reach him. It was through Anna Robertson, that we learned that Russell had suffered a stroke. We at MPI were shocked and saddened by the news. My son, Zaki, who was studying at the University of the West of England visited him at the hospital where he was bed-riddened.
Now both MPI and myself have lost Russell for ever. The good times that we had would be cherised forever.
My condolences to his family and may his soul rest in peace.
Chamil Wariya
Malaysian Press Institue
Kuala Lumpur.
I met Russel at the BBC while I was a student trying to get work on the Radio. He sent me to Wapping…..so he must have had faith in me. His habit of dropping me in a the deep end continued when I ran into him again about 18 months later, when he had moved to HTV Wales.
I turned up as a reporter. On my fourth day he calmly told me to go to makeup, get some slap on, and present the afternoon news. I protested and said I’ve never done it before. He said it’s simple, when the PA says off air in 10….you talk until she gets to zero the you say goodbye and shut up! As I walked away still protesting he said, “If you swim you can stay, if you sink , you’re out!”. It was the most terrifying hour of my life. I got through the bulletin, peeled my fingers out of the on-set desk, as I had obviously been gripping it so hard, my fingers had made indentations, then walked back up the stairs to the newsroom, expecting Russell to be there red faced and displeased. He didn’t even look up. The following week I was put on the presenter rota!
Several months later I moved to TVS and my replacement was given a month of dry runs. I protested to Russell. “What’s all this dry run nonsense?” I cried. “I Got the “sink or swim” speech and she gets a month of dry runs!”.
He just looked at me calmly and said….”Well you didn’t need them did you!”. Then he grinned his impish and evil grin and said “I knew you could do it!”
Typical! He’ll be missed.