Legendary ITV News presenter Sandy Gall dies aged 97
The veteran broadcaster and journalist Sandy Gall has died aged 97, his family has confirmed.
Gall became one of the most familiar faces in the country, firstly as a foreign correspondent for ITN, before becoming co-presenter of News at Ten.
His family revealed he died at his home in Kent on Sunday, and paid tribute to him saying: 'His was a great life, generously and courageously lived."
Gall's career in journalism spanned more than 50 years, starting in 1952 when he joined the Aberdeen Press and Journal.
He then worked at Reuters news agency for ten years as a foreign correspondent, before joining ITN in 1963.
It was at ITN where he was to become a household name in the UK, until his retirement from the broadcaster in 1992.
One of his first assignments with ITN was in Dallas, Texas just hours after the assassination of President Kennedy.
His time at ITN saw him cover some of the 20th century's biggest stories, such as the Vietnam War, the Soviet-Afghan War and America's civil rights movement, where he interviewed Martin Luther King in 1965.
He was also one of the few journalists to remain in Vietnam after the victory of the North Vietnamese to cover the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Gall went on to co-present News At Ten in 1970, which was then the UK's most watched news programme.
He made his final presenting appearance on News at Ten in 1991, before returning to work with the company as a special reporter until his final retirement in 1992.
He later became the founder and chairman of Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal, a charity for disabled Afghans that ran for nearly 40 years. It began with a focus on treating Afghans with war-related casualties and land mine victims, as well as children in refugee camps.
This focus widened, as the rehabilitation needs of many other people with disabilities became apparent.
Sandy was awarded a CBE in 1987 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2011.
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BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Tributes paid as journalist and TV presenter Sandy Gall dies aged 97
Journalist Sandy Gall has been praised as a 'giant and a gentleman' after his death at the age of 97. His journalism career spanned more than 50 years and he was a renowned foreign correspondent for ITN and the face of ITV's News At Ten from 1963 until 1992. Advertisement His family revealed that he died at his home in Kent on Sunday, and said: 'His was a great life, generously and courageously lived.' Gall covered major events such as the assassination of US president John F Kennedy, the civil rights movement and the Lockerbie disaster, after entering journalism as a reporter for the Aberdeen Press and Journal in 1952. Tom Bradby, lead anchor of News At Ten, said: 'He had, as a foreign correspondent, been there and done everything. 'As a trainee walking through the doors of ITN 35 years ago, I was one of many young would-be reporters he inspired. Advertisement 'His old-world charm and on-screen presence endeared him to so many viewers and so many of us. 'He was a giant and a gentleman of our business. Everyone loved Sandy.' Sir Trevor McDonald, former News At Ten presenter, said: 'I think Sandy Gall was one of the most brilliant journalists out there. 'And, around his work, ITN was able to build an enormous reputation. Advertisement Sandy Gall reported from Vietnam and Afghanistan. Photo: Myung Jung Kim/PA. 'He travelled the world, he covered wars, he covered political upheavals, and what he said, people believed. 'He gave ITN and News At Ten its credibility. When Sandy Gall said something, everyone believed it.' During his time as a foreign correspondent, Gall covered the arrival of the US into the Vietnam War in 1965, and the end of the conflict when the North Vietnamese army entered Saigon in 1975. Despite becoming a news presenter in 1970, he continued to report first-hand, spending weeks travelling on horseback to follow the Mujahideen in their guerilla war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Advertisement After his retirement in 1992, he founded and became chairman of Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal, a charity for disabled Afghans that helped war-related casualties, as well as children in refugee camps, for nearly 40 years. He was made a CBE in 1987 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2011. Tom Tugendhat MP said: 'Quite simply, a hero. 'Sandy Gall told the stories we needed to hear and kept up with those whose lives he had brought to our notice. Advertisement 'My condolences go to Carlotta Gall and the whole family. He was a legend to many, and a father to a lucky few.'
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Tributes paid as journalist and TV presenter Sandy Gall dies aged 97
His journalism career spanned more than 50 years and he was a renowned foreign correspondent for ITN and the face of ITV's News At Ten from 1963 until 1992. His family revealed that he died at his home in Kent on Sunday, and said: 'His was a great life, generously and courageously lived.' Gall covered major events such as the assassination of US president John F Kennedy, the civil rights movement and the Lockerbie disaster, after entering journalism as a reporter for the Aberdeen Press and Journal in 1952. Tom Bradby, lead anchor of News At Ten, said: 'He had, as a foreign correspondent, been there and done everything. 'As a trainee walking through the doors of ITN 35 years ago, I was one of many young would-be reporters he inspired. 'His old-world charm and on-screen presence endeared him to so many viewers and so many of us. 'He was a giant and a gentleman of our business. Everyone loved Sandy.' Sir Trevor McDonald, former News At Ten presenter, said: 'I think Sandy Gall was one of the most brilliant journalists out there. 'And, around his work, ITN was able to build an enormous reputation. Sandy Gall reported from Vietnam and Afghanistan (Myung Jung Kim/PA) 'He travelled the world, he covered wars, he covered political upheavals, and what he said, people believed. 'He gave ITN and News At Ten its credibility. When Sandy Gall said something, everyone believed it.' During his time as a foreign correspondent, Gall covered the arrival of the US into the Vietnam War in 1965, and the end of the conflict when the North Vietnamese army entered Saigon in 1975. Despite becoming a news presenter in 1970, he continued to report first-hand, spending weeks travelling on horseback to follow the Mujahideen in their guerilla war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. After his retirement in 1992, he founded and became chairman of Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal, a charity for disabled Afghans that helped war-related casualties, as well as children in refugee camps, for nearly 40 years. He was made a CBE in 1987 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2011. Tom Tugendhat MP said: 'Quite simply, a hero. 'Sandy Gall told the stories we needed to hear and kept up with those whose lives he had brought to our notice. 'My condolences go to Carlotta Gall and the whole family. He was a legend to many, and a father to a lucky few.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Tributes paid as journalist and TV presenter Sandy Gall dies aged 97
Journalist Sandy Gall has been praised as a 'giant and a gentleman' after his death at the age of 97. His journalism career spanned more than 50 years and he was a renowned foreign correspondent for ITN and the face of ITV's News At Ten from 1963 until 1992. His family revealed that he died at his home in Kent on Sunday, and said: 'His was a great life, generously and courageously lived.' Gall covered major events such as the assassination of US president John F Kennedy, the civil rights movement and the Lockerbie disaster, after entering journalism as a reporter for the Aberdeen Press and Journal in 1952. Tom Bradby, lead anchor of News At Ten, said: 'He had, as a foreign correspondent, been there and done everything. 'As a trainee walking through the doors of ITN 35 years ago, I was one of many young would-be reporters he inspired. 'His old-world charm and on-screen presence endeared him to so many viewers and so many of us. 'He was a giant and a gentleman of our business. Everyone loved Sandy.' Sir Trevor McDonald, former News At Ten presenter, said: 'I think Sandy Gall was one of the most brilliant journalists out there. 'And, around his work, ITN was able to build an enormous reputation. 'He travelled the world, he covered wars, he covered political upheavals, and what he said, people believed. 'He gave ITN and News At Ten its credibility. When Sandy Gall said something, everyone believed it.' During his time as a foreign correspondent, Gall covered the arrival of the US into the Vietnam War in 1965, and the end of the conflict when the North Vietnamese army entered Saigon in 1975. Despite becoming a news presenter in 1970, he continued to report first-hand, spending weeks travelling on horseback to follow the Mujahideen in their guerilla war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. After his retirement in 1992, he founded and became chairman of Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal, a charity for disabled Afghans that helped war-related casualties, as well as children in refugee camps, for nearly 40 years. He was made a CBE in 1987 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2011. Tom Tugendhat MP said: 'Quite simply, a hero. 'Sandy Gall told the stories we needed to hear and kept up with those whose lives he had brought to our notice. 'My condolences go to Carlotta Gall and the whole family. He was a legend to many, and a father to a lucky few.'
