GDN journalist passes away

Gulf Daily News deputy editor Les Horton, one of the kingdom’s most revered journalists and widely-read columnists, has passed away after losing his brave battle against cancer.

Mr Horton, 56, died at London University Hospital early last Thursday after a 14-month fight with the illness.

He is survived by his wife Sara and three children – Noor, six, Jasmine, four, and James, two.

Al Hilal Group general manager Geoff Milne described Mr Horton as an ‘intelligent man, rigorous and exacting with a wry sense of humour’.

“I have known Les for many years both professionally and on a personal basis. As a journalist he always respected the intelligence of his many readers and would deliver the facts rather than flowery words,” he said.

“He was a real fighter for the objectivity of the GDN and a stalwart in building the reputation the newspaper commands across Bahrain.
“Les fought his long illness with great strength and a single-mindedness that was humbling to me. His tenacity and sheer mental strength in fighting for his life to have more time with his beloved family is an inspiration to me and to all who knew him.”

Mr Milne’s sentiments were echoed by Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton, who said: “Over the last 14 months we have seen Les battling his way against cancer. At all times he maintained the most positive approach possible supported by his wife Sara who also had three little ones to cope with.

“I could not help but admire the closeness and determination they displayed as a family as they confronted the multitude of problems which they faced. Les bore his illness with the grittiness he displayed as a journalist being both pragmatic and practical.

“When I visited him just a couple of weeks before he died, he was still hopeful that he would beat the disease. It was not to be and we all feel as if we have lost a dear and close member of our family.”

Although Mr Horton came across as remarkably confident in his columns, GDN editor George Williams, who worked with him for over 23 years, described him as a ‘naturally shy’ man.

He said: “Les was never one for large gatherings and he was always very unassuming at social functions.

“They say no one is irreplaceable, but Les was. He was an old school journalist and a true perfectionist, they simply don’t make them like that anymore.

“Les was a dear friend and he will be greatly missed.”

Mr Horton was born in 1955, in Stafford, England, and fostered out from Dr Barnardo’s Home. He joined the GDN as a sub-editor in 1987 and rose to the rank of deputy editor in 1992. His opinion column ‘As I See It’ was one of the most popular features of the GDN.