BBC journalist dies at his Walton home (From This Is Local London)

BBC journalist dies at his Walton home

7:00am Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Laura Proto

A former BBC journalist has died at his home in Walton after suffering a long illness.

Chris Underwood, the former general secretary of the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ), died on Friday, August 31.

Mr Underwood began his distinguished career as a local newspaper reporter in Surrey before moving to the Exchange Telegraph news agency, then the Daily Mail and the BBC.

He joined the CIoJ in 1977 and helped establish its broadcasting division, in which he later served as chairman. He also served a year as president of the Institute.

Mr Underwood became the institute’s general secretary in 1989 and retired in 2003.

Paul Leighton, current broadcasting division chairman, said: “Chris hugely enriched the lives of so many of us, especially me.”

Mr Underwood’s funeral will be at Randall's Park Crematorium in Leatherhead on Monday, September 17.