Sandy Gall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sandy Gall
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| Born |
Henderson Alexander Gall
1 October 1927 Penang, Straits Settlements, British Malaya
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| Died | 29 June 2025 (aged 97) Kent, England
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| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1953–2021 |
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| Spouse(s) |
Eleanor Smyth
(m. 1958; |
| Children | 4, including Carlotta |
Henderson Alexander Gall (born October 1, 1927 – died June 29, 2025) was a famous Scottish journalist and news presenter. He worked for over 50 years, telling people about important events around the world. Sandy Gall, as he was known, started his career writing for a newspaper in 1952. Later, he became a foreign correspondent for Reuters, a big news agency, from 1953 to 1963. He then joined Independent Television News (ITN) in 1963. At ITN, he was a foreign reporter and also presented the news on News at Ten from 1970 to 1991. He also helped start a charity called Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal in 1986.
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Growing Up and School
Sandy Gall was born on October 1, 1927, in Penang, which is now part of Malaysia. His parents were Scottish. His father worked on a rubber plantation there. When Sandy was four, he moved to Scotland to live with family.
He went to a boys' school called Trinity College, Glenalmond in Perthshire. After school, he served in the Royal Air Force for two and a half years. He worked as a physical training instructor in Berlin. Later, in 1952, he finished his studies at the University of Aberdeen. He earned a degree in French and German.
A Career in Journalism
Early Reporting Days
In 1952, Sandy Gall started his journalism career at a newspaper called Aberdeen Press and Journal. A year later, in 1953, he became a foreign correspondent for Reuters. This is a big international news agency. He worked there until 1963.
During this time, he reported from many places, including Congo, East Africa, Germany, and Hungary. In 1960, while reporting on a conflict in Congo, he was briefly held by local authorities. He and two other journalists were later released.
Reporting for ITN
Sandy Gall joined Independent Television News (ITN) in 1963. He traveled the world as a foreign reporter. He covered important events in places like Afghanistan, Africa, China, and Vietnam. In 1970, he also started presenting the news on News at Ten.
In 1972, he was briefly held in Uganda while reporting. He also presented TV shows like A Place in Europe and Freeze. In 1976, he was briefly detained by police in Madrid while filming outside a car factory. In 1980, he narrated a documentary about Vietnamese boat people.
Covering Major Events
Sandy Gall reported on many big stories. He covered the 1980 United States presidential election and the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. In 1982, he made a special documentary called Afghanistan: Behind Enemy Lines. This film showed what was happening in Afghanistan during a difficult time.
He also reported on the Soviet–Afghan War in another documentary. In 1983, he was featured on the TV show This is Your Life. He even appeared on a travel quiz show called Where in the World.
Later Career and Charity Work
In 1986, Sandy Gall made another important documentary about the war in Afghanistan. He felt it was important to show the true story of what was happening there. He also narrated a program about Sarah, Duchess of York. In 1989, he interviewed the famous conservationist George Adamson.
Sandy Gall stopped presenting News at Ten in 1991. He continued to work as a special reporter for ITN until 1992. After that, he worked as a freelance journalist, writing and making TV programs. He presented a BBC radio travel show and a BBC2 program where he explored a large desert.
In 2002, he reported from Afghanistan for Channel 5. He covered efforts to rebuild the Buddhas of Bamiyan. In 2004, he presented a History Channel documentary about Afghanistan's history. From 1978 to 1981, he was the rector of the University of Aberdeen. In 1986, Sandy Gall and his wife started a charity called Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal. This charity helps children and others affected by conflict in Afghanistan by providing artificial limbs and therapy. He also became a World Affairs Expert for LBC radio in 2003.
Family Life and Passing
Sandy Gall met Eleanor Smyth in Budapest in 1956. They got married on August 29, 1958. They were married until Eleanor passed away on September 9, 2018. They had four children together. One of their children, Carlotta, also became a journalist.
In June 1972, Sandy Gall was involved in a car accident in Bromley, Kent, and was injured.
Sandy Gall passed away at his home in Kent on June 29, 2025. He was 97 years old.
Awards and Recognition
Sandy Gall received many awards for his work. In 1981, the University of Aberdeen gave him an honorary Doctor of Law degree. He was also given the Sitara-e-Pakistan award in 1985 and the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal in 1986.
He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1987. In 2011, he was honored as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his help to the people of Afghanistan.
