Richard Wild (1978 - 2003)

On July 5, Richard Wild was shot dead in Baghdad by an unknown gunman. He had been in the country for less than two weeks and was working as a freelance journalist covering the aftermath of the Iraq War. Only 24, Richard was a true Renaissance man - extremely gifted, multi-talented and much loved.

For some time, Richard had single-mindedly pursued his ambition to report from Iraq. Having worked for six months logging footage for ITN, he was in the unique position of having viewed more images of the war than almost anyone else. But viewing was not enough for him. He was driven to report on the war himself.

For him, it was a drive borne neither from ambition nor from a romantic image of the itinerant war correspondent. It was a stubborn determination to report on the desperate state of the Iraqi people. He firmly believed that, as an independent freelancer, he was in the best position to tell the stories that mainstream networks might ignore. Stories like his feature, broadcast 3 days after his death - illustrating the plight of refugees in Baghdad, who, protected under Saddam, now find themselves once again forced from their homes and seeking refuge.

It is ironic that the whole reason Richard was in Baghdad was to report on these very human realities of the failing 'reconstruction' of Iraq. It is ironic that he wanted to tell of the increasing resentment of American occupation and to understand the growing suffering and rage that drives men to fire single calibre bullets into other men's heads.

Born and raised in St Boswell's, Scotland, Richard was an overachiever from an early age. At St Mary's school in Melrose, he was Head Boy and dux of the school. At Sedbergh, his secondary school, he is remembered as a genuine polymath. A fine rower and debater, Richard was as impressive on the stage as the rugby field. He was Head Boy and is described by his former housemaster as the "best pupil of his generation".

After leaving Sedbergh, Richard took a gap year, during which he served a short-service commission as a lieutenant in the King's Regiment. He then went to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a top BA and MPhil in history.

Extremely popular at school and university, friends describe him as someone "all the boys wanted to be, and all the girls wanted to be with." Neither is hard to believe, for he was as well known for his wry humour and magnetic calm as he was for his exceptional good looks.

His friends remember his year immediately subsequent to graduation as 'exploratory'. He worked briefly as a banker, then as an art historian; he set up a tutoring business and he worked as a photographer. While some put this down to indecision, others attributed it to an unwillingness to settle until he had uncovered his passion. And it seems Richard had done this when he decided on journalism.

Watching his feature on the Baghdad refugees, it is immediately obvious he had found his niche. His beautiful face, searing intellect, and gentle voice were the perfect combination to make him a very successful television reporter indeed. Yasmin Hai, a producer who worked closely with Richard on her documentary The True Face of War said recently, "I was immediately struck by him. I thought he was amazing… We were so struck by his professionalism that the office joke soon became that one day he would be running ITN."

ITN's loss is our tragedy. For Rich was so much more than a promising journalist. Our deep sympathy goes to Richard's parents, Robin and Daphne, and to his sisters, Alison and Rosemary. It also goes to his many friends from all around the world. They are testament to the unique and extraordinary character of Richard Wild.

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