Warm tributes pour in for the witty Idler columnist

A MASTER storyteller, a quick wit and a wordsmith with a "wonderful way with words".

- KAMINI PADAYACHEE

This is how Idler columnist Graham Linscott has been described by those who knew him. Linscott died yesterday at the age of 83.

Linscott had a long and illustrious career in journalism. According to his website, linscott.co.za, he worked as a journalist in 11 African countries

He worked for the Argus Africa News Service, the Argus group and later Independent Newspapers and held various roles including as foreign correspondent, parliamentary correspondent, syndicated columnist and associate editor.

He covered the revolutionary wars in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and had a lengthy spell in the press gallery of the South African parliament.

He often shared humorous anecdotes from his foreign correspondent days in his daily Idler column which had a strong following. The Idler column has been in existence for 144 years and has seen many take on the role.

Linscott had been the current Idler for more than 15 years.

Philani Mazibuko,