A legend's story (From Stroud News and Journal)

A legend's story

ONE of the pioneers of broadcast journalism has just published a new book about his early life from his Standish care home at the age of 94.

ITN legend Sir Geoffrey Cox has produced just 120 copies of his latest printed work, which describes his adventurous childhood in New Zealand in the 1920s.

In the book, A New Zealand Boyhood, he describes growing up in the beautiful but challenging surroundings of a North Island farm and his experiences working with tough sheep shearing gangs.

He went on to become a newspaper journalist, wartime army officer and, in 1955, a hugely influential news editor at ITN news, where he showed the way for television journalism.

And Sir Geoffrey was on fine form as he entertained special guests at an intimate book launch in the Moreton Hill Farm Care Centre, where he has lived for the last two years.

Still a keen follower of the news, Sir Geoffrey, who was knighted for services to journalism in 1966, told the SNJ that he lamented the time shift of ITN news but thought the "noble profession" of journalism was as strong as ever.

"It is fashionable to pretend there is something wrong with TV news today but there isn't," he said. "The only thing that is wrong is shifting the news from 10pm to 10.30pm. I thought 10pm was the perfect time for the news."

Sir Geoffrey's book, A New Zealand Boyhood, is available from the Stroud Bookshop now, priced £12.95.