Alex Kirby: A Life Dedicated to Journalism and Climate Advocacy
Alex Kirby, a respected journalist who passed away from cancer at the age of 86, left an indelible mark on environmental reporting. After a distinguished career at the BBC, he co-founded the Climate News Network in 2013, alongside former Guardian journalists Tim Radford and Paul Brown. This media organisation was committed to delivering free and accessible stories about the climate crisis, operating for nine years to inform the public globally.
Early Life and Career Transitions
Born in Liverpool to Frederic, an insurance clerk, and Beryl, a homemaker, Alex grew up in Sefton Park during the Second World War. He cherished memories like sharing sardine sandwiches in bomb shelters and accompanying his father, an air-raid warden, on patrols. At age eight, he was sent to a preparatory school in Kent, which he despised due to harsh punishments, fostering a lifelong aversion to private education. Tragically, his father died when Alex was only 13, deeply affecting the family.
Alex pursued a degree in theology at Keble College, Oxford, and trained for the priesthood at an Anglo-Catholic college in Mirfield, Yorkshire. After ordination, he served as a deacon in the Isle of Dogs, east London. However, his ecclesiastical path was short-lived as he found his true calling in journalism. In 1970, he became editor of Race Today, the house journal of the Institute of Race Relations, where he met his future wife, Belinda Andrews, marrying in 1972.
Journalistic Journey and Environmental Focus
Following voluntary work in West Africa and a role at the World Council of Churches' Programme to Combat Racism in Geneva, Alex joined the BBC World Service in 1978. Initially based in London, he later worked as a freelance in Algeria for a year with his young family. In 1987, he took on the defining role of environment and agriculture correspondent for the BBC, traveling worldwide to report on critical issues. He also served as the BBC's religious affairs correspondent, covering events like the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
After leaving the BBC in 2005, Alex worked as a freelance journalist until co-founding the Climate News Network. In this capacity, he contributed articles to the Guardian over several years, leveraging his expertise to highlight the evolving climate crisis. His work emphasised making complex environmental topics understandable and freely available to all.
Personal Life and Legacy
Alex enjoyed a rich personal life, spending time with family, including anticipating the birth of his third grandchild. He loved holidays in Cornwall, walking his dogs on the South Downs, and visiting pubs with friends. He is survived by his wife Belinda, his sons Thomas and the obituary writer, and his grandchildren Ramses and Filou.
Throughout his career, Alex Kirby demonstrated a unwavering commitment to journalism and environmental advocacy, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire through the Climate News Network's mission.
