The journalism world has lost a distinctive voice with the death of Tom Tickell, the former personal finance editor of the Guardian, at the age of 82. While he offered readers shrewd financial guidance for over a decade, his own life was a rich tapestry of public service, humour, and eclectic passions.
A Distinguished Career in Journalism
Tom Tickell's journalistic career was long and varied. After studying history at Pembroke College, Oxford, and early roles at ITN and the Economist, he found his spiritual home at the Guardian in 1970. He served as the newspaper's personal finance editor until 1982, building a reputation for offering excellent, practical advice to readers, even if he humorously admitted he did not always follow it himself.
He later took his expertise to the Mail on Sunday (1982-84) and the Sunday Telegraph (1991-94), before working as a freelancer until 2004, with personal finance remaining his central theme throughout.
A Life of Lively Passions and Public Duty
Beyond the newsroom, Tickell led a remarkably full and engaged life. He was a regular and passionate orator at London's Speakers' Corner, holding forth on politics and delighting crowds with whimsical topics like the suitability of llamas for London Transport.
His commitment to public service was profound. He served as a Mental Health Act Commissioner from 1985 to 1991 and was a long-standing member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. He also dedicated time as a prison visitor at Pentonville in north London, later joining its independent monitoring board in retirement.
Early Life and Lasting Legacy
Born in Oxford during the Second World War, Tom was the son of Irish novelist Jerrard Tickell and author Renee Haynes, a researcher into paranormal phenomena. He survived a childhood bout of meningitis thanks to the then-new miracle drug, penicillin.
A natural raconteur and mimic from his teens, he became a beloved uncle to ten nephews and nieces, who formed his first devoted fan club. This love of stories and curiosities later fuelled his published works of quizzes and anecdotes.
He married Anne Tomlins in 1979, and they had three children: Lucy, Charlotte, and Nicholas. Even after a diagnosis of dementia, he continued to charm and joke with his carers and nurses. He is survived by Anne, his children, four grandchildren, and his ten nephews and nieces.
