The obituary of Reginald Turnill whisked me back in an instant about 65 years; Reg was a reporter with the Press Association covering a US Air Force court martial at Manston aerodrome. I was his telephonist, whose job it was to phone his copy through to the PA office in London. In those days this had to be done using public telephone booths and penny-in-the-slot machines (old pennies, before decimalisation).
When it came to the verdict and sentence, the courtroom door was locked while quite lengthy proceedings went on. Reg prearranged with me that he would leave the press bench and stand by the locked door on the inside and push underneath the door one of two slips of paper – one saying Guilty, the other Not Guilty. When it appeared (Guilty), I grabbed it and ran to the nearest phone box, called the PA, and the result was in the office within a couple of minutes of being delivered in the courtroom. Exciting stuff for a young lad and enterprising reporting for a man who went on to make his mark at the top of his profession.