BBC broadcasting journalist and author Sir Mark Tully has died, The Guardian reports. He passed away on January 25. He was 90. Tully held the title Sir after being knighted in 2002 at Buckingham Palace by King Charles III, then Prince of Wales. He earned these honors for his services to broadcasting and journalism.
Following his passing, tributes have poured in from politicians, colleagues, and friends.
Tributes for Sir Mark Tully
Journalist Satish Jacob paid tribute to his dear friend on Facebook. They had a friendship that endured 48 years. Jacob posted two photos of them together. The first is a throwback to the early days of their friendship and a more recent image. In Jacob’s tribute, he discussed how they first met in Vishakhapatnam in 1978 while covering the impact of a local cyclone. They worked together for 16 years and were colleagues and friends.
“Privately he was a boisterous personality with a great sense of humour and over the years we watched each other’s children grow up, marry and set lives for themselves,” Jacob shared. “For Mark, leaving India was never an option, he was at home here sharing his life with Jilian. We kept on meeting regularly over the years, even when his health slowly started failing. Still, he was always in good spirits and ready for a joke. It is very difficult to single one cherished memory of our 48 year long friendship but one of my favourite ones is the day India won the Cricket World Cup in 1983.”
Jacob ended his message with a heartfelt comment. “He left an indelible mark on my life, and I am going to miss my friend,” he wrote.
Sir Mark Tully’s Passing
Getty“We are sad to hear the passing of Sir Mark Tully,” Interim CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, Jonathan Munro, said in a statement to the BBC. “As one of the pioneers of foreign correspondents, Sir Mark opened India to the world through his reporting, bringing the vibrancy and diversity of the country to audiences in the UK and around the world.”
Munro continued, “His public service commitments and dedication to journalism saw him work as a bureau chief in Delhi, and report for outlets across the BBC. Widely respected in both India and the UK, he was a joy to speak with and will be greatly missed.” This is just one of several tributes from those who worked with Tully and who valued their time with him.
Remembering Sir Mark Tully
GettyTully was a foreign correspondent beloved for his work in India. He served as the BBC’s Delhi bureau chief from 1972 to 1993, The Guardian reports. He was also referred to as the BBC’s “voice of India.” Tully was born in British India in 1935, and although he was British, he would also become fluent in Hindi, which benefited him in his coverage of the country.
Tully married Margaret Butler in 1960. Together, they had four children: two daughters and two sons. His personal life was complicated, though, and he also had a partner, Gillian “Gilly” Wright.
