I was a cross community worker for four years between Shankhill, Falls and north Belfast during the early days of the peace process in an IT project I was running.
At that time I watched the evening news with interest.
At times I’d see Ken with some of the community leaders on both sides I worked with, in buildings I was in and out of.
You could see that he was respected by all. I had a couple of chances to say hello and I wish I had.
When other journalists sniffed out the conflict and division in any talks or negotiations (peace isn’t good box office)
Ken Reid always accentuated the possitives were he could. He also never played the blame game.
Often the media here was very much, and still often is a part of the problem.
Ken was from the unionist community but he was one of the very few broadcast journalists here who was trusted by both communities. People believed Ken Reid.
He was very much a part of the solution.
He came across as genuine and honest.
He always seemed to talk up the possibilities of peace.
This page has never paid tribute to anyone outside lurgan who has passed, it is a local page .
Today however I would like to pay tribute to Ken Reid, a proper journalist.
His like won’t be seen again.
