Duncan Watt helped raise standard of news presenting

Like many of my former colleagues in broadcasting, I am saddened by the death of Duncan Watt, one of our well-known newsreaders in the 1980s and 90s (“Former news presenter Duncan Watt dies of liver cancer”; Sept 9, Channel NewsAsia).

To the best of my knowledge, he was a humble, friendly man who was never in a rush but always calm.

He was a man of few words, and when he did speak during his visits to read the news, it was a simple “hi” matched with a smile for everyone: Security personnel, front desk staff, make-up artists and his newsroom colleagues.

His professionalism in news presenting and his looks appealed to TV viewers, especially the older generation. His battle with liver cancer must have been a difficult period, but he is now free from suffering.

As I catch the TV news at night, I will remember this man who has contributed in some way to the rise in the standard of news presenting here.