The Commonwealth Journalists Association wishes to send its condolences to the family of the distinguished journalist and BBC World Affairs Correspondent, Brian Hanrahan, who has died after a short illness.

Brian was a consummate professional – a quiet, modest person, he had an economy of language and the ability to get to the heart of a story which was the envy of his colleagues – witness his most resonant phrase that he used during the height of the Falklands conflict when he said &quot;I counted them all out and I counted them all back&quot;referring to British planes flying on a mission off an aircraft carrier against the Argentines.<

Brian later became a respected World Affairs (Diplomatic) Correspondent and a calm, unflappable presenter of current affairs radio programmes like The World This Weekend.<

He was a long-time friend of many of our members and won high praise for his professional and firm chairing of a discussion organised by the CJA at the House of Commons in July on India-Pakistan relations.

Brian could always be relied upon to give an immediate but mature and measured judgement on an item of breaking news &ndash; much to be envied in this world of rolling twenty four news, a quality which will be much missed.

Rita Payne<

Chair, Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK)<