Remembering Graham Linscott: Warm tributes for the witty Idler columnist
The Mercury's Idler columnist Graham Linscott died on Thursday at the age of 83.
Image: File
A master storyteller, a quick wit and a wordsmith with a “wonderful way with words”.
This is how Idler columnist Graham Linscott has been described by those who knew him. Linscott died yesterday at the age of 83.
Linscott had a long and illustrious career in journalism. According to his website, linscott.co.za, he worked as a journalist in 11 African countries. He worked for the Argus Africa News Service, the Argus group and later Independent Newspapers and held various roles including as foreign correspondent, parliamentary correspondent, syndicated columnist and associate editor.
He covered the revolutionary wars in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and had a lengthy spell in the press gallery of the South African parliament. He often shared humorous anecdotes from his foreign correspondent days in his daily Idler column, which had a strong following. The Idler column has been in existence for 144 years and has seen many take on the role. Linscott had been the current Idler for more than 15 years.
Philani Mazibuko, The Mercury’s editor, paid tribute to Linscott for bringing frivolity and humour to readers in his daily Idler columns, noting that many readers kept buying the paper because of their fondness for his musings.
“He will be dearly missed by his colleagues and the readers of The Mercury,” he said.
David Canning, former editor of The Mercury, also paid warm tribute to Linscott. “Graham was renowned for his vast newspaper experience, for his balanced reporting and for his endless sense of humour.”
“He worked for various publications, gaining valuable early experience on London’s Fleet Street during its heyday and later, among many other things, reporting on South African parliamentary affairs, and as a foreign correspondent on African issues.
“In recent years, Graham continued to write the daily Idler column for The Mercury – taking a humorous and an often tongue-in-cheek look at current affairs. In this, he continued a tradition which has lasted for most of The Mercury’s long existence since it was founded in 1852.”
Former night editor for The Mercury, Jon Knight, remembered Linscott as a charming person, with a wonderful way with words and a real raconteur. “He was happiest sharing stories of his past escapades, of which there were many, and telling stories of the larger-than-life people he had met, preferably with a glass of something stronger than water in his hand.
“He was a wordsmith and the author of many books, including biographies of Ian Player and mercenary Peter Duffy. An old-school journalist, he covered many of the African conflicts for the Argus Africa News Service, and was also a parliamentary correspondent, among many other roles.
“Later, he was a consultant to a number of provincial government departments. He was The Idler at The Mercury for many years, adding a touch of humour and lightening up the news columns, and interacting with readers.”
Wanda Hennig, a close friend and a former colleague, said: “Linscott, the legend. Eccentric, funny, brilliant and a genuine original. What a sad loss: to his many friends, his children, Jamie and Sarah, his nieces in Pietermaritzburg. And, it goes without saying, to journalism, especially here in Durban and KZN. Having worked for the Argus Africa Service, covered Parliament and being a voracious reader, an immeasurable depth of knowledge dies with him.
“The environment. Rugby. Wildlife. His interests were vast. His life was his writing, his children, his friends. I know he had five books in progress that he was hoping would make it into the world... I was fortunate to call Graham a good friend. An exasperating friend at times. I cannot believe he won’t be making his way from Howick to Durban for our monthly St Clements evenings, which he supported so enthusiastically. RIP dear Graham.”