A memorial service for Mr Arnold Kemp, Editor of the Glasgow Herald, 1981-94 and Foreign News Editor of The Observer, was held yesterday at St Bride’s, Fleet Street. Canon David Meara, Rector of St Bride’s, officiated.

Mr Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, read the lesson. Mr Burhan Wazir, a reporter, The Observer, read from Rob Roy by Sir Walter Scott, Ms Sandra Jordan, Assistant Foreign News Editor, read John MacNab by John Buchan, and Mr William Keegan, Economics Editor, read The Culture of Contentment by J.K. Galbraith.

Mr Roger Alton, Editor of The Observer, paid tribute, and Mr Robin McKie, Science Editor, gave an address.

During the service Mr Dave Gelly, tenor saxophone and jazz critic of The Observer, accompanied by Mr Dave Cliff, guitar, played Someone to Watch Over Me by George Gershwin and afterwards Ms Mairi Campbell sang Auld Lang Syne.

Mr Michael Ancram, QC, Deputy Leader of HM Opposition and Shadow Foreign Secretary, attended. Among others present were:

Ms Anne Simpson (partner), Ms Susan Kemp (daughter), Mr Rob Bruce and Mrs Jackie Kemp-Bruce (son-in-law and daughter), Mr David Kemp and Mr Robbie Kemp (brothers), Mr Stuart Kemp, Mrs Stephanie Simpson-Scull, Ms Claire Simpson, Mrs Sandra Kemp and other members of the family.

Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar, Lord Lang of Monkton, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, KT, Sir Eric Yarrow.

Mr Paul Webster and Mr John Mulholland (Deputy Editors, The Observer) with Mr Stephen Pritchard and Mr Ben Summerskill (Assistant Editors), Mr Peter Beaumont (Foreign Affairs Editor), Mr Andy Malone (Executive Editor, News), Mr Kamal Ahmed (Political Editor), Mr Mike Holland (Comment Editor), Mr Frank Kane (City Editor), Mr Martin Bright (Home Affairs Editor), Mr Brian Oliver (Sports Editor), Mr Jason Burke (Chief Reporter), Mr Andrew Rawnsley (Chief Political Columnist), Ms Gaby Hinsliffe (Chief Political Correspondent), Mr Will Hutton, Ms Mary Riddell, Mr Euan Ferguson and Mr Nick Cohen (columnists).

Mr Alan Rusbridger (Editor, The Guardian) and Mrs Lindsay Mackie, Mr Jonathan Bouquet, Mrs Sarah Mitchell, Mrs Karen Erwin, Mr John Barton, Mrs Dave Gelly, Mr Anthony Howard, Mr Derek Glynne, Mr Christopher Maclehose, Mr John Henderson, Mr Brian Oliver, Mr Robert McCrum.

Ms Lottie Smedley, Mr Robert Bell, Mr and Mrs Paul Smedley, Mr Paul Hackett and Mrs Decca Aitkenhead, Mr Arthur MacMillan, Dr Helen McEwan, Mrs A Hollywood, Ms Annie Good, Mr Ian Murray, Ms Michelle Wolstencroft, Ms Stephanie Merritt, Ms Edie Reilly, Ms Jade Parker, Mr Jim McCafferty, Mr Andy Beven, Ms Kitt Spring, Mr and Mrs Ian Bowman, Mr John Boyle, Mr Ted Webster, Mr Paul Webster, Mr Lawrence Donegan, Mr Jamie Doward.

Ms Anne Marie Hollywood, Ms Penelope Mahon, Ms Fionnuala Dunne, Mr Harry Reid, Ms Julie Davidson, Mr and Mrs Iain Nelson, Mr and Mrs Nigel Bruce, Ms Georgina Wroe, Ms Elisabeth Glick, Mr Iain Lindsay-Smith, Mr and Mrs Ian Bowman, Ms Isabel Carter.

Mr Ian Brunskill and Mr John Mair (The Times) with Mrs Mair, Mr and Mrs Jim Fiddes, Mr John Sweeney, Mr Bob Poulton, Mr and Mrs Murray Ritchie, Mr Bill Bryden, Ms Shirley Hart, Mr Jim McKillop, Mr Jack Crossley, Mr Colin McDiarmid, Mr Alf Young, Mr Bill Russell, Mr Ray Gardner, Ms Julia Langdon, Mr David McKie, Mr Phil Osborne, Mr Kenneth Morgan, Mr and Mrs Nigel Bruce, Mr Andy Malone, Mr Peter Avis, Ms Penelope Mahon, Mr and Mrs Ian Nelson, Ms Kate Connelly, Ms Vanessa Thorpe, Mr Anthony Barnett, Ms Amelia Hill, Mr Michael Agar, Mr Mark Townsend.

Mr Phil Hogan, Mr Stephen Khan, Mr Tim Adams, Mr G Wood, Mr Matthew Nicklin, Mr Cal McCrystal, Ms Isobel Carter, Mr Ewen Macaskill, Mr David Hearst, Ms Milly Gentleman, Ms Pamela Bainbridge, Mr Ron Paton, Mr Jay Rayner, Mr Greg Whitmore, Ms Martine Corre, Mr Giles Richards, Mr Malloy Woodcraft, Mr Ed Crozier, Mr Harold Frayman, Mr David Pearson.

Mr Martin Dowle, Mr Patrick Young, Mr John Kalish, Ms Caroline Peal, Ms Lizzie Tucker, Ms Belinda Tighe, Ms Daphne Romney, Mr Dean Nelson, Ms Joanna Walters, Mr and Mrs Leonard Doyle, Mr James Powell, Ms Kendra Wilson, Ms Clare Brown, Mrs Hilary Stonefrost, Mr Robert Yates, Mr Sunder Katwala, Mr Paul Simon, Mr Vikram Dodd and many other friends and former colleagues.

Elizabeth Viscountess Ashbrook

The Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and Mrs William BromleyDavenport attended a service of thanksgiving for the life of Elizabeth Viscountess Ashbrook held yesterday at the Church of St Mary and All Saints, Great Budworth. The Rev Alec Brown officiated.

Viscount Ashbrook, son, read the lesson and the Hon Mrs Foster, daughter, read from The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling. The Hon Henry Palmer, nephew gave an address. Viscountess Ashbrook, daughter-in-law, Mr Charles Foster, son-in-law, and Mrs Frederick Fryer, sister, were present with many friends.