Comments on: Passion for training and telling stories that lay behind the magic touch of Russell Lyne http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/2009/11/the-passion-for-training-and-telling-stories-that-lay-behind-the-magic-of-russell-lyne/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:18:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: John Shone http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/2009/11/the-passion-for-training-and-telling-stories-that-lay-behind-the-magic-of-russell-lyne/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 John Shone Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:56:13 +0000 http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/?p=1222#comment-1065 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. 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.

]]> By: Ian Masters http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/2009/11/the-passion-for-training-and-telling-stories-that-lay-behind-the-magic-of-russell-lyne/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 Ian Masters Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:06:00 +0000 http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/?p=1222#comment-1063 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. 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.

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