- John Toye
John Toye (d. 28th April 1992) was a presenter and newsreader on Scottish television for over 20 years, and is best known as the former anchor on its flagship news programme
Scotland Today .Life and career
Toye's background was actually as an actor, rather than a journalist, and he spent 10 years in the theatre in roles ranging from appearing in Shakespearian plays to building stage scenery. As a child, he spent time in America and was once rescued from a cruise ship torpedoed on route to Britain during the
Second World War .He returned to America where he studied classical music and even spent time living with
Navajo Native Americans before attending drama school in London. After working in touring theatre, he applied for a job withSTV (nowScottish Television ) in 1964, and spent over 20 years with the company.He married Sheila Ward, a scenic designer, in the early 1960s while still a struggling actor.
His first role on television was as a presenter on "Today Is Tuesday" before becoming the main anchor on the station's main early evening flagship news programme,
Scotland Today , in September 1972. His almost nightly appearances on STV in the 70s turned Toye into a well known figure in centralScotland , and he regularly appeared off screen, opening shows or making presentations for charities and other worthwhile causes.A revamping of Scotland Today in 1984 brought his news presenting to an end, although he remained with STV for a brief spell presenting a weekly consumer programme, "What's Your Problem", before eventually leaving STV in 1986.
Toye moved to South Molton in Devon, England, in 1990 to start a new life, but failed to relaunch his career and spent the next few years battling against alcoholism combined with depression and financial worries.
Death
John Toye was found shot dead at his Devon flat on April 28th 1992. A shotgun lay next to his body. He was 56 years of age.
His funeral was held at South Moulton Parish Church in Devon on May 15th 1992, and he was later cremated. His wish was that his ashes should be scattered on the
River Clyde .At an inquest held on May 29th 1992, the
coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.When once asked how he'd like to be remembered, Toye replied "just as a nice guy who tried to do a good job".
References
*
Daily Record (Scotland) April 30th 1992
*Herald (Glasgow) April 30th 1992
*Daily Record (Scotland) May 16th 1992
*Herald (Glasgow) May 30th 1992External links
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BHgpOj5XoKo A short tribute to John Toye from his former STV colleagues]
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