Bit of a niche one this, but it's one that's important to me, as I knew him. BBC Aerospace Correspondent Reg Turnill has died, aged 97. Reg worked for the BBC since the 1950s and was featured as space correspondent on popular children's news programme Newsround. He reported on the moon landing, but his biggest claim to fame, as he told me in person, is that he was the first reporter on the scene in Houston when Apollo 13 had a problem, and called the information back to the UK. He told me that, at the time, such a call was a pretty big deal! Not only was he the first to report that historic event, but he also was present for BOTH the Concorde test flights (he told me there was one true test flight, which he flew on, and one for the press, for which he reported on the ground). I last saw Reg last year and he seemed in remarkably good health for his age. He was still working for the BBC from home. A truly remarkable man. A few weeks later, he called me and asked me if I could transfer some reel-to-reel tapes. Sadly, I never got to do this for him. RIP Reg - you were a lovely man full of fascinating stories. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21430057
Yes, and he was still very active and proud of it! I said to him I hope I'm that active if I live to that age!
A very lucky man indeed. He was given the best gift of all as they say. Long life and fully active. RIP Mr. Turnill.
