This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6952918.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tributes are paid to Lord Deedes Tributes are paid to Lord Deedes
(20 minutes later)
Voices from the worlds of politics and journalism have paid tribute to "gentleman journalist" William "Bill" Deedes who has died aged 94. Voices from the worlds of politics and journalism have paid tribute to "gentleman journalist" Lord Deedes, who has died aged 94.
Lord Deedes was the only man to have edited a newspaper - the Daily Telegraph - and to be a Cabinet member. William "Bill" Deedes was the only man to have edited a newspaper - the Daily Telegraph - and been a Cabinet member.
Gordon Brown said Britain owed a "huge debt of gratitude" for Lord Deedes' public service, including as a Tory MP.Gordon Brown said Britain owed a "huge debt of gratitude" for Lord Deedes' public service, including as a Tory MP.
His successor at the Telegraph, Sir Max Hastings, said he was a reporter of the "utmost integrity and enormous skill". His successor at the Telegraph, Sir Max Hastings, said he was a reporter of "utmost integrity and enormous skill".
Lord Deedes spent most of his life writing for national newspapers and became known as the "Grand Old Man of Fleet Street", completing his final column on 3 August. Lord Deedes spent most of his life writing for national newspapers and became known as the "Grand Old Man of Fleet Street", completing his final column on 3 August this year.
He was also Conservative MP for Ashford in Kent and served as minister without portfolio from 1962 to 1964.He was also Conservative MP for Ashford in Kent and served as minister without portfolio from 1962 to 1964.
The prime minister said: "He started writing as a professional journalist more than 76 years ago and few have served journalism and the British people for so long at such a high level of distinction and with such a popular following."The prime minister said: "He started writing as a professional journalist more than 76 years ago and few have served journalism and the British people for so long at such a high level of distinction and with such a popular following."
Tory leader David Cameron said Lord Deedes had done "enough in his time to fill at least three lifetimes".Tory leader David Cameron said Lord Deedes had done "enough in his time to fill at least three lifetimes".
'Dear Bill''Dear Bill'
The young Bill Deedes was the inspiration for Evelyn Waugh's infamous war reporter William Boot in the novel Scoop.The young Bill Deedes was the inspiration for Evelyn Waugh's infamous war reporter William Boot in the novel Scoop.
He lacked the vanity and egotism that too many of us have and therefore he was a superb medium for news because he didn't want to get in the way of it Charles MooreFormer Telegraph editor A 'gentleman' remembered Obituary: Lord DeedesHe lacked the vanity and egotism that too many of us have and therefore he was a superb medium for news because he didn't want to get in the way of it Charles MooreFormer Telegraph editor A 'gentleman' remembered Obituary: Lord Deedes
One of his successors as editor of the Telegraph, Charles Moore, said he had set the highest standards in his work.One of his successors as editor of the Telegraph, Charles Moore, said he had set the highest standards in his work.
"The reason why he was such a great journalist was that he remained absolutely on top of what was happening and he lacked the vanity and egotism that too many of us have."The reason why he was such a great journalist was that he remained absolutely on top of what was happening and he lacked the vanity and egotism that too many of us have.
"And therefore he was a superb medium for news because he didn't want to get in the way of it."And therefore he was a superb medium for news because he didn't want to get in the way of it.
"He understood the job of the reporter was to get the story and to tell it in a clear, crisp way.""He understood the job of the reporter was to get the story and to tell it in a clear, crisp way."
Lord Deedes also achieved fame outside Fleet Street as "Dear Bill", addressee of the "Denis Thatcher" fortnightly letter in Private Eye.Lord Deedes also achieved fame outside Fleet Street as "Dear Bill", addressee of the "Denis Thatcher" fortnightly letter in Private Eye.
He was made a life peer in 1986, the same year he handed the editorship of the Daily Telegraph to Max Hastings after 12 years at the helm.He was made a life peer in 1986, the same year he handed the editorship of the Daily Telegraph to Max Hastings after 12 years at the helm.
He was still an active journalist in his 90s, making visits to war-torn places like Ethiopia and Sudan.He was still an active journalist in his 90s, making visits to war-torn places like Ethiopia and Sudan.
'Internet embraced''Internet embraced'
Former editorial director of the Daily Telegraph, Kim Fletcher, said Lord Deedes had seen huge changes in the world of journalism.Former editorial director of the Daily Telegraph, Kim Fletcher, said Lord Deedes had seen huge changes in the world of journalism.
HAVE YOUR SAY Bill Deedes was a voice of reason and sanity. His passing leaves us all the poorer Latimer Alder, Weybridge Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Bill Deedes was a voice of reason and sanity. His passing leaves us all the poorer Latimer Alder, Weybridge Send us your comments
"This was a man who went out in the 1930s to Abyssinia," he said."This was a man who went out in the 1930s to Abyssinia," he said.
During that time, ways of filing stories included by telex, he added.During that time, ways of filing stories included by telex, he added.
"And yet at the end of his career he was happily embracing the internet, he was filing all the ways that you can file these days - a completely different life.""And yet at the end of his career he was happily embracing the internet, he was filing all the ways that you can file these days - a completely different life."
Baroness Thatcher knew Lord Deedes for more than 50 years and told the Telegraph he was a "dear friend" who would be greatly missed.Baroness Thatcher knew Lord Deedes for more than 50 years and told the Telegraph he was a "dear friend" who would be greatly missed.
"He managed to appeal to new generations just as effectively as he did to earlier ones," she said."He managed to appeal to new generations just as effectively as he did to earlier ones," she said.
Lord Deedes died at his home in Kent after a short illness.Lord Deedes died at his home in Kent after a short illness.
His wife, Hilary Branfoot, who he married in 1942, died in 2004. They had two sons, one of whom died young, and three daughters.His wife, Hilary Branfoot, who he married in 1942, died in 2004. They had two sons, one of whom died young, and three daughters.