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Tim Coone obituary Tim Coone obituary
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Tim Coone, who has died of cancer aged 60, was a respected foreign correspondent whose life was changed by Nicaragua. He first headed there in 1981 in the optimistic early days of the Sandinista revolution, as a stringer for several media outlets including the BBC World Service, and from his base in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, covered Central America for most of a turbulent decade, becoming the Financial Times's correspondent.Tim Coone, who has died of cancer aged 60, was a respected foreign correspondent whose life was changed by Nicaragua. He first headed there in 1981 in the optimistic early days of the Sandinista revolution, as a stringer for several media outlets including the BBC World Service, and from his base in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, covered Central America for most of a turbulent decade, becoming the Financial Times's correspondent.
Ever resourceful, during the invasion of Panama in 1989, when the US military were preventing the Managua press corps from entering the country, Tim managed to charter a plane, inviting along fellow journalists. As the reporter Joe Gannon remembers: "Tim being Tim it never occurred to him to take off on his own, get the scoop." His peers elected him president of the Managua Foreign Press Club.Ever resourceful, during the invasion of Panama in 1989, when the US military were preventing the Managua press corps from entering the country, Tim managed to charter a plane, inviting along fellow journalists. As the reporter Joe Gannon remembers: "Tim being Tim it never occurred to him to take off on his own, get the scoop." His peers elected him president of the Managua Foreign Press Club.
He had brief spells in Argentina in the mid-80s and in Dublin in the 90s, where he clashed with his FT superiors over his take on the Northern Ireland story. In 1994 Tim moved to Mexico as a freelance, later working for the Economist Intelligence Unit.He had brief spells in Argentina in the mid-80s and in Dublin in the 90s, where he clashed with his FT superiors over his take on the Northern Ireland story. In 1994 Tim moved to Mexico as a freelance, later working for the Economist Intelligence Unit.
He returned to Nicaragua in 1997 and devoted his energies to a project that had long fascinated him: to build a waterway connecting Nicaragua's Pacific coast with the Caribbean Sea. His cost-effective and environmentally sensitive Ecocanal plan attracted influential partners and official approval but to his disappointment the dream remained unfulfilled. Latterly Tim worked to promote renewable energy in Nicaragua.He returned to Nicaragua in 1997 and devoted his energies to a project that had long fascinated him: to build a waterway connecting Nicaragua's Pacific coast with the Caribbean Sea. His cost-effective and environmentally sensitive Ecocanal plan attracted influential partners and official approval but to his disappointment the dream remained unfulfilled. Latterly Tim worked to promote renewable energy in Nicaragua.
He was born in Aberdeen, Maryland, the second son of Kenneth, a US serviceman, and Muriel, a British nurse. The family moved to the UK when Tim was a year old, and his parents subsequently divorced. After King Edward's school, Bath, and Teignmouth grammar school, Devon, he went to Imperial College London, but transferred to Newcastle University, where he completed a degree in agricultural economics.He was born in Aberdeen, Maryland, the second son of Kenneth, a US serviceman, and Muriel, a British nurse. The family moved to the UK when Tim was a year old, and his parents subsequently divorced. After King Edward's school, Bath, and Teignmouth grammar school, Devon, he went to Imperial College London, but transferred to Newcastle University, where he completed a degree in agricultural economics.
Tim visited the West Bank in the 1970s. On his return he applied to work for the United Nations Association International Service, which promotes the rights enshrined in the UN Charter around the world. Unais wanted to develop a programme in the West Bank and needed a field officer, but had no funds available. The problem was solved when Tim started a research project, a PhD on the agricultural economy of the West Bank, at Aston University, for which he received a grant, while working for Unais. He went on to play a leading role in forming the London Friends of Palestine.Tim visited the West Bank in the 1970s. On his return he applied to work for the United Nations Association International Service, which promotes the rights enshrined in the UN Charter around the world. Unais wanted to develop a programme in the West Bank and needed a field officer, but had no funds available. The problem was solved when Tim started a research project, a PhD on the agricultural economy of the West Bank, at Aston University, for which he received a grant, while working for Unais. He went on to play a leading role in forming the London Friends of Palestine.
Tim was a modest, charming man, whose idealism, spirit of adventure and gentle sense of humour left a lasting impression. He is survived by his second wife, Mariana; two sons, Daniel and Benjamin, from a previous marriage; and two grandchildren, Samuel and Zachary.Tim was a modest, charming man, whose idealism, spirit of adventure and gentle sense of humour left a lasting impression. He is survived by his second wife, Mariana; two sons, Daniel and Benjamin, from a previous marriage; and two grandchildren, Samuel and Zachary.
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