The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sir Peregrine Worsthorne, 96
Sir Peregrine Worsthorne, former editor of the Sunday Telegraph and columnist, has died aged 96.
Beginning his journalistic career in 1946 as a subeditor at the Glasgow Herald, he moved on to the Times and the Daily Telegraph before being appointed as the first deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph in 1961 and moving to edit the paper in 1986.
He spent the majority of his career working for the Sunday edition and was well known for being a leading columnist.
Remembered for his unpredictability and flamboyancy, the writer was born in Chelsea on December 22 1923.
Sir Peregrine made television history when he became one of the first people to swear on national television.
During a BBC programme in March 1973, he was asked what he thought the British public would think about a News of the World sting catching the defence minister, Lord (Antony) Lambton, in bed with two sex workers.
He replied using the F-word to say he did not think they would care.
It made the front page of all the morning newspapers the next day and the BBC had to make an apology.
Sir Peregrine was the younger son of a Belgian banker, General Alexander Lexy Koch de Gooreynd, who served his country in the First World War, and London councillor Priscilla Reyntiens, who was the granddaughter of the 12th Earl of Abingdon.
He was knighted for his services to journalism in 1991 but was also criticised by many for some of his views.
Many took to social media to pay tribute to Sir Peregrine.
Former Welsh Tory candidate, Matt Smith, wrote: “Sad to read of the passing of Sir Peregrine Worst horne, former editor of the Sunday Telegraph and author of The Myth Of Socialism, a great work of Tory philosophy.”
Politics lecturer Adrian Hilton said: “Very sad to hear that Peregrine Worsthorne has died.
“His Old Rectory is just down the road from me in Hedgerley: I often walk behind it with the dogs.
“Perry was a vast repository of wisdom and always a pleasure to talk to.”
Sir Peregrine is survived by his wife and daughter.