document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Without a doubt, the ski facilities are the main draw in winterthough ice skating, ice climbing, and Christmas shopping are great side shows. Then he broke his back. Simon is a sports nut, and when he is not adventure-seeking he is following his beloved Barnsley Football Club. Hard to believe hes gone. We woke to the news that our beloved Willy aka Simon Willis has left us & we are bereft. He celebrated his 30th/40th and 50th birthday at our home and we had a ridiculous amount of fun. Switzerland has pioneered one of the most efficient and sustainable transit systems in the worldand rather than buying individual journeys, travelers can access it all using the Swiss Travel Pass. and here it is. Paul Burrell arranged the flowers while Richard Branson donated a honeymoon in the Caribbean. Lucernes Blue Balls Festival draws legends of rock and pop. I never did met anyone who knew Nik Kershaws back catalogue like Willy. But perhaps the simplest way to be a responsible traveler in Switzerland is to walk, bike, and take public transit. Swiss wine, though seldom exported, is excellentand often affordable. Morgans former colleague on Good Morning Britain Susanna Reid, a Pride of Britain judge, said: Great sadness at the loss of such a lovely, kind man. Im an interviewer at the Daily Mail now, but, like so many, I wouldnt have my career without Pete. He taught me the basics of editing back in the 90s. I can hardly believe it. BBC trained video journalist / self-shooting AP & Producer. Terribly sad news. How he got half the celebrities to turn up for Pride of Britain was always a source of light-hearted speculation but as Peter could charm the skin off a snake, I put it down to that! I was lucky enough to work with him more than twenty years ago when we were both showbiz reporters, Peter on The Sun and me on Today. Find me on The Talent Manager. Join over a million of the worlds best travelers. Award winning travel writer. My thoughts and prayers are forever with Nicky and the boys. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Peter frequently had everyone in stitches with his impression of the future queens awkward conversation with the reporter. Explore cities and towns on foot or by bicycle. You dont me Jo. Following. I was part of a formidable features department he led at the Mirror. This page was last edited on 17 August 2020, at 08:18. Article(s) of the same category(ies), https://en.everybodywiki.com/index.php?title=Simon_Willis&oldid=961327. Terribly sad news., Former colleague Trevor Dann said: Lovely bloke. The whole thing was bonkers but typical of Peters cleverness and sense of fun. My deepest and heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends.. If he bumped into members of the RoyalFamily or celebrities anywhere, in any context, his opening gambit was always: I hope well be seeing you at Pride of Britain this year? The sensible ones knew But of course, Peter was the only acceptable response. Strong self-shooter on Canon XF 305. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Peter will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.. My favourite memory of him was calling him from South Africa where I had spent the morning with a baby dying from Aids. Zurichs bike-rental facilities are conveniently located at three locations throughout the city, including the main train stationsimply show your passport, leave a deposit, and borrow a bike for free. Talented, kind, hilariously funny. of BBC newsreaders and reporters See more on our Privacy page. Ill forever be indebted to these publications for keeping me off the streets:The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, Afar, Bradt Travel Guides, TravelMag, Adventure Cyclist Magazine, Delta Sky Magazine and Matador Network. Plan routes throughout the country on electric trains powered by renewable energy, hybrid-electric buses, and boats using the SBB Mobile transit app. This foundation of modern-day Switzerland is celebrated vehemently every year, and each region marks the occasion in its own manner, usually with fireworks, bonfires, lavish parades, floats, and music. He truly was the heart and soul of the Mirror office and his loss will be sorely felt by everyone lucky enough to have worked with him. Switzerland Travel Guide | AFAR Funny, incredibly talented and a kind man. He was a truly nice man. BBC producer Simon Willis has died after being poorly for some time his colleague Zoe Ball, 50, confirmed today. Simon Willis is a British journalist, who worked for BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria) from 1983 until 1999 as a reporter and presenter before moving to BBC before becoming group executive editor and director of the Pride of Britain Awards, which he founded, last year. He writes travel guides and destination articles to fund his addiction to wheat-based snacks and ice pops. My husband Steve & Willy. Thinking of family, friends and my old colleagues at this terrible time., Peter was the heart and soul of the Mirror. This article includes a television- and people-related list of lists. Fleet Street has lost one of its greats. A sublime talent taken far too young. The Swiss Travel Pass offers discounts on many of the nations gondolas and trams. RIP legend. https://t.co/Wew5zssAIn. Always Another Adventure | videos & podcasts WebSimon Willis is a travel writer and freelance journalist flirting with both South America and Europe. Columnist Sue Carroll picked a young couple from Exeter who had written in with a touching love story. Ive explored drug lords ranches for the Washington Post and snapchatted for Matador Network about eating a Swiss cheese sandwich. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". His brain tumour diagnosis came after a year of symptoms including fatigue and confusion. I wont be able to watch a true crime show voiced by Fred Dinenage (his favourite) without thinking of him. Tributes paid to former Radio 1 Producer Simon Willis. Friends and former colleagues of Simon Willis have been paying tribute to him following news of his passing. Peter coordinated the whole shebang. I get moaned at for taking lots of pics. When Im not pestering poor tortoises, I write about travel. BBC Newcastle presenter Wendy Gibson has split from her broadcaster husband, Simon Willis. Vineyards offering overnight stays, cycling tours, and walking trails scatter the land in many regions. Peter was forever striving for perfection and often achieved it. Jake Wallis Simons | Journalist Our hearts reach out to his wife Nicky and sons Theo and Henry. He was such a gifted communicator and could effortlessly chat to anyone with wonderful warmth and kindness. If you did, hed just keep calling & emailing until you relented. In December 2021, he was appointed Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, where he has become known for However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. He passed away three years later due to complications after surgery. Can winter sports survive on a warming planet? RIP https://t.co/wPZjAzL5gW, Claudia Connell (@Claudiacc) June 28, 2021. 5 Reasons Why Switzerland Is the Ultimate Winter Escape for Every Traveler, Christmas Markets in Europe to Get You in the Holiday Spirit, The Family Getaway of Your Dreams Awaits in the Valais Region of Switzerland, Why The Top of Europe is the Stylish Adventure You Need, The Best Skiing (and Spas) in Valais, Switzerland, The Most Romantic Experiences in Switzerland, The Best Walks, Rides, and Drives in Switzerland, The Most Luxurious Experiences in Switzerland. This glorious event in our national calendar won the hearts of millions with its brilliant story-telling thanks to Peters dedication, flair and genius. A former travel writer for The Sunday Times and TGO - The Great Outdoors, he is a past winner of the Travelex Award for travel writing. Ive received a face full of spit during an ancestral healing in Quito and played with wolves in Quebec. Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers said: Peter Willis was not only a giant of the industry, he was one of the kindest people you could ever meet. WebTools. Prince Charles, who knew Willis through his work with Pride of Britain, said: As The Pride of Britain became an established event, celebrating the great people of this country, Peter always insisted one of my Trusts young people was included. Showreel & work examples SimonWillis.TV. Sun editor Victoria Newton said: Peter is remembered at The Sun as a brilliant story-getter and a kind, much-loved colleague. (@lisamarks) June 29, 2021, My days working on the Bizarre desk at The Sun were some of the best days of my life. He championed me when I was a young reporter shifting on 3am and later when I returned he always made time to chat & reminisce about his own Showbiz days. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". We went on location trips to Spain and covered the Montreux TV Festival together, working like demons and laughing loud and long into the night. Above all, my heart goes out to Nicky and the family. Rest easy mate.. This byline is for a different person with the same name. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please contact me swillis_1@hotmail.co.uk and follow me @simonwillis11. Simon Willis is a travel writer and freelance journalist flirting with both South America and Europe. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. A mentor to myself and many others, his death leaves a huge void. M x pic.twitter.com/oT0M766By3, Martin Burgess-Moon ?? Husband and father-of-two Willis spent 23 years at the Mirror, first joining the newspaper as launch editor of Saturday supplement The Look in 1997 after working at the Manchester Evening News and The Sun. WebJ ake Wallis Simons is an award-winning British journalist and novelist. After all, the beauty of this country is best seen by taking it slow on foot or bike and staring out the train window with a camera in hand. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Then, in the morning he would call me to say how we could have made it even better. Reach editor-in-chief Lloyd Embley broke the news to staff on Monday afternoon, paying tribute to the enormous contribution to the company his longstanding colleague has made. It was something to behold..