Tributes pour in for Gulf Times founding editor

Brian Nicholls,the founding editor of Gulf Times, passed away in his native country theUnited Kingdom on May 5, family sources have said. He was 80.Brianhad not been keeping good health for over a year, “but sadly hiscondition worsened over the last couple of months and he died peacefullyin palliative care with the family round him,” his widow Dorothy saidin a message.Rich tributes have been paid to Nicholls by his formercolleagues, who have fondly remembered him as a dedicated professionaland 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.Besidesworking for several newspapers in the UK, he spent three months inIndia on a fellowship awarded to British journalists by the CommonwealthPress Union.Brian set up Gulf Times in 1978 and remained its editor for 12 years. He returned to the UK in 1990. RememberingBrian, Gulf Times founding managing director Yousuf Jassem al-Darwishsaid: “Besides being a remarkably good and lively person, Brian Nichollswas a committed professional who wholeheartedly built the newspaperfrom the foundations laid down by its promoters.“I selected him fromthe four or five journalists who attended the interview held at aLondon hotel in 1978, and found him to be the best of all those whoturned up for the interview. Brian was always friendly to hiscolleagues.”He also lauded Brian’s commitment to protect Qatar’s interests, respect local sentiments as well as the feelings of the non-British expatriates. “Aseditor, Brian was involved in all stages of production of the newspaperfrom its modest beginnings and guided it initially as a weekly beforeturning it into a full-fledged daily newspaper.”Gulf Times Production EditorAmjad Khan remembers Brian Nicholls for his professionalism, superbediting skills as well as his sense of humour. “Brian was a mastertabloid technician. We learned a lot from the way he handled stories.Tight subbing was his real forte. He would strike off expressions andredundancies without offering a terser substitute, thus saving space andimproving the sentence.”Recalling his association with Brian,former Gulf Times production editor C P Ravindran said, “It was awonderful experience to work with a great editor like Brian Nicholls forwhom journalism was a passion. Yousuf Jassem Darwish, a leading Qataribusinessman and a former Advisory Council member, and Nicholls were thedriving forces behind the launch of  Gulf Times, Qatar’s first Englishdaily and one of the oldest in the region, in 1978. The paper’s currentstatus and success owe a lot to the tireless work of these two people.“Itwas Brian who recruited me in 1978 in New Delhi to join the initiallysmall founding team and I consider it as a great honour. He was knownfor his sense of humour and quick wit. It was always a pleasure to work with him.”  BabuMather, former news editor, said, “Brian was a wonderful person, afather figure besides being an affectionate friend and a thoroughbrededitor with a vision. Though a taskmaster, he never got angry. In theearly struggling years, Brian was a picture of confidence. He nurturedhis young colleagues and encouraged them to aim high. “Brian will always be remembered by his friends and colleagues.”TM Anantharaman, a former deputy news editor, said, “I am still in astate of shock to know that Brian Nicholls, my editor and mentor withwhom I spent almost 12 years since 1978, is no more. Brian was alwayscheerful and full of good humour when dealing with the staff members. Iwas blessed to have had an editor like Brian Nicholls in my early yearsas a journalist. RIP Brian Nicholls ... we will certainly miss you.”ArvindNair, former reporter, said, “Brian was a perfect gentleman. I havenever 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 picnicswith us.“Gulf Times is Brian’s baby. He developed it from scratchand gave it shape, size, smell and flavour. It was not an easy taskconsidering that there was no newspaper culture in Qatar, a country of1,65,000 people then.“Brian, I consider it as my good fortune that I could work for you.”ShantiRodrigues, executive secretary, said, “Words don’t come easy when welose someone dear. Brian was the first managing editor of Gulf Timeswith whom I was privileged to be closely associated as his secretary for10 years from 1980-1990. During this tenure I saw Brian as professionaland humane ... He was loved by all for his extremely kind nature andwill be missed by us all at Gulf Times especially since he stayed intouch even after his departure from Doha. To conclude my eulogy on ahumorous note, the first editor-in-chief and founder of Gulf Times,Yousuf Jassem al-Darwish once said ‘Brian, you are all sugar with nosalt ... you must have some salt too’.” N Valentine, anothercolleague, said, “I will always remember Brian Nicholls as he was theone who interviewed, selected and brought me to Doha. I am deeplysaddened by this news. “My heartfelt and most sincere condolences toDorothy and the entire family. May God give them the fortitude to bearthis irreparable loss and may the departed soul rest in peace.”JosephValiyaveettil, production chief of Gulf Times since 1978, recalled thatit was Brian Nicholls who selected him for the post. “Prior to joiningGulf Times, I did not have any experience in a newspaper. It was Brianwho taught me everything about newspaper production and what I am todayis because of him. He was a role model and mentor. He was ready to doany task. That impressed me a lot.”C K Krishnan, the most seniormember of the production department, who worked closely with Brian atthe publication’s start in 1978, remembered the founding editor as anexceptionally good human being who treated his colleagues with dignity and respect.” RoneyMisquitta, scanner operator, who joined Gulf Times in 1979, said, “Itwas Brian Nicholls who interviewed me in Mumbai. I had just finished mystudies. Though I had no experience in the field, he brought me to Qataras an assistant bromide camera operator. Brian was a thoroughgentleman, always smiling and ready to help and encourage everyone. Hewas a great friend and had no airs at all that he was the editor.”