Brian Nicholls, the founding editor of Gulf Times, passed away in his native country the United Kingdom on May 5, family sources have said. He was 80.
Brian had not been keeping good health for over a year, “but sadly his condition worsened over the last couple of months and he died peacefully in palliative care with the family round him,” his widow Dorothy said in a message.
Rich tributes have been paid to Nicholls by his former colleagues, who have fondly remembered him as a dedicated professional and a genuine and compassionate human being.
Brian had been a journalist for than 60 years, starting his career as a copy boy at the age of 15.
Besides working for several newspapers in the UK, he spent three months in India on a fellowship awarded to British journalists by the Commonwealth Press Union.
Brian set up Gulf Times in 1978 and remained its editor for 12 years. He returned to the UK in 1990.
Remembering Brian, Gulf Times founding managing director Yousuf Jassem al-Darwish said: “Besides being a remarkably good and lively person, Brian Nicholls was a committed professional who wholeheartedly built the newspaper from the foundations laid down by its promoters.
“I selected him from the four or five journalists who attended the interview held at a London hotel in 1978, and found him to be the best of all those who turned up for the interview. Brian was always friendly to his colleagues.”
He also lauded Brian’s commitment to protect Qatar’s interests, respect local sentiments as well as the feelings of the non-British expatriates.
“As editor, Brian was involved in all stages of production of the newspaper from its modest beginnings and guided it initially as a weekly before turning it into a full-fledged daily newspaper.”
Gulf Times Production Editor Amjad Khan remembers Brian Nicholls for his professionalism, superb editing skills as well as his sense of humour. “Brian was a master tabloid technician. We learned a lot from the way he handled stories. Tight subbing was his real forte. He would strike off expressions and redundancies without offering a terser substitute, thus saving space and improving the sentence.”
Recalling his association with Brian, former Gulf Times production editor C P Ravindran said, “It was a wonderful experience to work with a great editor like Brian Nicholls for whom journalism was a passion. Yousuf Jassem Darwish, a leading Qatari businessman and a former Advisory Council member, and Nicholls were the driving forces behind the launch of  Gulf Times, Qatar’s first English daily and one of the oldest in the region, in 1978. The paper’s current status and success owe a lot to the tireless work of these
two people.
“It was Brian who recruited me in 1978 in New Delhi to join the initially small founding team and I consider it as a great honour. He was known for his sense of humour and quick wit. It was always a pleasure to work with him.” 
Babu Mather, former news editor, said, “Brian was a wonderful person, a father figure besides being an affectionate friend and a thoroughbred editor with a vision. Though a taskmaster, he never got angry. In the early struggling years, Brian was a picture of confidence. He nurtured his young colleagues and encouraged them to aim high.
“Brian will always be remembered by his friends and colleagues.”
T M Anantharaman, a former deputy news editor, said, “I am still in a state of shock to know that Brian Nicholls, my editor and mentor with whom I spent almost 12 years since 1978, is no more. Brian was always cheerful and full of good humour when dealing with the staff members. I was blessed to have had an editor like Brian Nicholls in my early years as a journalist. RIP Brian Nicholls ... we will certainly miss you.”
Arvind Nair, former reporter, said, “Brian was a perfect gentleman. I have never seen him shouting at anyone. He was very jovial and cracked jokes.
“As editor, he never sat on a high pedestal and looked down on us. He was one of us, worked with us, partied with us and went on picnics with us.
“Gulf Times is Brian’s baby. He developed it from scratch and gave it shape, size, smell and flavour. It was not an easy task considering that there was no newspaper culture in Qatar, a country of 1,65,000 people then.
“Brian, I consider it as my good fortune that I could work for you.”
Shanti Rodrigues, executive secretary, said, “Words don’t come easy when we lose someone dear. Brian was the first managing editor of Gulf Times with whom I was privileged to be closely associated as his secretary for 10 years from 1980-1990. During this tenure I saw Brian as professional and humane ... He was loved by all for his extremely kind nature and will be missed by us all at Gulf Times especially since he stayed in touch even after his departure from Doha. To conclude my eulogy on a humorous note, the first editor-in-chief and founder of Gulf Times, Yousuf Jassem al-Darwish once said ‘Brian, you are all sugar with no salt ... you must have some salt too’.”
N Valentine, another colleague, said, “I will always remember Brian Nicholls as he was the one who interviewed, selected and brought me to Doha. I am deeply saddened by this news.
“My heartfelt and most sincere condolences to Dorothy and the entire family. May God give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may the departed soul rest in peace.”
Joseph Valiyaveettil, production chief of Gulf Times since 1978, recalled that it was Brian Nicholls who selected him for the post. “Prior to joining Gulf Times, I did not have any experience in a newspaper. It was Brian who taught me everything about newspaper production and what I am today is because of him. He was a role model and mentor. He was ready to do any task. That impressed me a lot.”
C K Krishnan, the most senior member of the production department, who worked closely with Brian at the publication’s start in 1978, remembered the founding editor as an exceptionally good human being who treated his colleagues with dignity and respect.”
Roney Misquitta, scanner operator, who joined Gulf Times in 1979, said, “It was Brian Nicholls who interviewed me in Mumbai. I had just finished my studies. Though I had no experience in the field, he brought me to Qatar as an assistant bromide camera operator. Brian was a thorough gentleman, always smiling and ready to help and encourage everyone. He was a great friend and had no airs at all that he was the editor.”