| Location | England |
| Age | 70 years |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Date of Birth | 1938 |
| Date of Death | 08/10/2008 |
| Visitors | 1,342 since 08/10/2008 |
| Creator |
Bob Friend, one of the original and best-known presenters of Sky News, has died from cancer at the age of 70.
News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch led tributes to Friend, who retired in 2003, describing him as "a distinguished journalist and an admired broadcaster".
He was quick to understand the power of non-stop programming," Murdoch said.
"He was there at the beginning of that long, hard road we all had to travel to make Sky News what it is today".
Friend's first appearance came on Sky News in February 1989, the day the satellite channel launched.
During his time with the broadcaster, Friend fronted Live at Five and then Sky News at Ten. He also presented live coverage of the 1997 hand-over of Hong Kong to China.
2003 he received an MBE for services to journalism, with then prime minister Tony Blair praising his work and "his reassuring voice".
His profile also saw him get requests from Hollywood - Tom Cruise saw him and asked him to appear as a newsreader in his movie Mission Impossible. An on-screen part in Independence Day followed.
Sky News presenter Anna Botting, who presented alongside Friend, said: "It is rare you meet someone who encapsulates all that is good in serious journalism with an extraordinary sense of humour.
The combination made Bob Friend a distinctive TV personality who was both authoritative and a delight to watch.
"An instinctive journalist, he would grasp a story instantly. His colleagues would watch in awe as he asked correspondents - in just three words - questions which completely captured the essence of a news item."
Former head of Sky News Nick Pollard said Friend had a huge depth of knowledge and "crucially could convey that in an easy and familiar way to people, making him a remarkable person to watch on-screen
The combination made Bob Friend a distinctive TV personality who was both authoritative and a delight to watch.
"An instinctive journalist, he would grasp a story instantly. His colleagues would watch in awe as he asked correspondents - in just three words - questions which completely captured the essence of a news item."
Former head of Sky News Nick Pollard said Friend had a huge depth of knowledge and "crucially could convey that in an easy and familiar way to people, making him a remarkable person to watch on-screen
The head of Sky News, John Ryley, added: "Bob was Bob - what you saw off-screen was what you got on-screen.
"It made absolutely no difference - whoever you were he would treat you in exactly the same way. He was a very humble guy and he had no airs and graces."
Friend began his journalism career aged 15 at the Kent & Sussex Courier before going on to freelance for national newspapers for nine years. He then joined the BBC in 1969 as a radio reporter.
He spent four years reporting from Northern Ireland for BBC Radio 4's Today programme and also spent a short spell in Vietnam.
He moved to Australia in 1973 to become the first BBC correspondent there and four years later went to Tokyo for the corporation.
Friend joined the BBC Breakfast Time for its launch in 1982 as the show's New York correspondent. He leaves a wife and two daughters
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ღ * xxx. ღ Your*ღ ♥. x♥. ღ ღ * * Page ღ* ღ x.ღ ღ ღ ღ ♥ ღ x*ღx .xxxWith ♥x *ღ xxღx xx. * ღ.*Lots x .* ღ *xx ღ x.xx*ღ xxღ .x ♥ .x Of*xx ღ *x . Love ღ .x ♥ .x *xx ღ *x . ღ * . x* ♥ღ Hugs.ღღx x ღ ♥. ღ * x x. * ♥. x♥ ღ *
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥ ¸.•*´)¸.•*´ ´*•.¸
♥~ In The Light ~♥
A shadow of joy flickered; it is me.
I told you I wouldn't leave.
My spirit is with you.
My memories, my thoughts are
imbedded deep in your heart.
I still love you.
Do not for one moment think
that you have been abandoned.
I am in the Light.
In the corner,
in the hall,
the car,
the yard --
these are the places I stay with you.
My spirit rises every time you pray for me,
but my energy comes closer to you.
Love does not diminish,
it grows stronger.
I am the feather that finds you in the yard,
the dimmed light that grows brighter
in your mind,
I place our memories for you to see.
We lived in our special way,
a way that now has its focus changed.
I still crave your understanding and
long for the many words of prayer
and good fortune for my soul.
I am in the Light.
As you struggle to adjust without me,
I watch silently.
Sometimes I summon up all the strength
of my new world
to make you notice me.
Impressed by your grief,
I try to impress my love
deeper into your consciousness.
As you should,
I call out to the Heavens for help.
You should know that the fountain of youth
does exist.
My soul is now healthy.
Your love sends me new found energy.
I am adjusting to this new world.
I am with you and I am in the Light.
Please don't feel bad that you can't see me.
I am with you wherever you go.
I protect you,
just as you protected me so many times.
Talk to me and somehow I will
find a way to answer you.
Mother, father, son or daughter
it makes no difference.
Brother, sister, lover,
husband or wife, it makes no difference.
Whatever our connection-friend or even foe-
I see you with my new eyes.
I am learning to help wherever you are,
where ever I am needed.
This can be done because I am in the Light.
When you feel despair, reach out to me.
I will come.
Our love for you truly does
transcend from Heaven to Earth.
Finish your life with the enthusiasm and zest
that you had when we were together
in the physical sense.
You owe this to me, but more importantly,
you owe it to yourself.
Life continues for both of us.
I am with you because I love you
and I am in the Light.
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥ ¸.•*´)¸.•*´ ´*•.¸GOD BLESS LOVE ANNE X
I didn't know till just now that you had died. Indeed a sad loss to the world of television news and broadcasting!. Rest in eternal peace free of pain and suffering.x. ^i^
R.I.P
my thoughts are with your family & friends at this sad time.
you will be sadly missed by everyone you knew & worked with, you sounded like a great guy with a great sense of humour & good heart.
sleep tight bob.xx
my love & thoughts to your family
A day of joy and gladness
Is what I wish for you
Someone I admire
And think the world of too.
Please have a glorious day
May your morning be happy and bright
And your day be very special
From Morning until night.
Just as special as you!
R.I.P.
bless ur family at this sad time.your out of your pain now so u can rest in peace.you were a lovely man known all over the world..R.I.P XX
GOD BLESS
GOD BLESS YOU BOB A GREAT MAN MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOUR LOVING FAMILY AT THIS VERY SAD TIME ALL MY LOVE ANNE XXX
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