[1] He was Political and Industrial Correspondent for BBC Scotland for 10 years and was also a keen sportsman.

[3] Before he entered journalism he was a bank clerk, and ran a gift shop and a building business.

[4] During his career as a journalist, he charmed John Major into giving him an interview by telling him that if he refused, Chelsea F.C.

[1] He ambushed Margaret Thatcher by hiding in a hotel cupboard to get an interview with her.

He also received eulogies from Donald Dewar, Charles Kennedy, Gordon Brown, George Robertson, Alex Salmond, Michael Forsyth and Tam Dalyell.