One of the fascinating aspects of journalism is having the chance to meet a wide variety of interesting people. Here is a selection of Eric’s encounters over the years, beginning with his days writing about music in Scotland.
Eric’s first newspaper – the Lennox Herald in Dumbarton in the West of Scotland. 
First rock interview – with American singer Suzie Quatro backstage at the Glasgow Apollo on 2 February 1975. 
Interviewing Marc Bolan at the Albany Hotel, Glasgow in February 1975 for the launch of his “Bolan’s Zip Gun” album. 
With Carlos Santana, CBS public relations manager Eamon Lea and Santana’s keyboard player Tom Costa at a post-concert party at the Albany Hotel, Glasgow on 16 September 1975. The opening act was Earth, Wind and Fire, and both bands were at the party. 
No photo (or even an autograph) in these pre-iPhone days, but joined Radio Clyde’s Bill Black for a backstage interview with Johnny Cash between concerts at the Glasgow Apollo on September 18, 1975. For physical presence, Johnny Cash had no equal. 
An interview with Leonard Cohen at the Glasgow Apollo conducted with Roddy Forsyth on 15 May 1976, with a memorable dedication in the concert programme. 
Covering a visit by Prince Charles to Paisley around 1980. 
With three-times Formula One World Champion, and fellow Scot, Jackie Stewart during a Ford event at Erskine near Glasgow circa 1980 while working as the Paisley Daily Express’s motoring correspondent. 
Test driving a Ferrari Mondial QV in the Scottish borders in 1982. 
Gong Li receives France’s Ordre Des Arts et Des Lettres at the China Club in Hong Kong in June 1998. image.png 
With Italian golfer Constantino Rocca at the Hong Kong Open in 1997. 
Fifteen minutes of fame – The Times of London, June 1999: “One of the last blocks in France’s linguistic Maginot Line has fallen with the appoint of a Scottish journalist as Editor-In-Chief of the press agency Agence France-Presse”. 
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September 2004 – in the pits with former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi. 
Former French President Nicols Sarkozy making a point at the traditional New Year’s reception when he was interior minister in January 2003. 
Presenting the AFP photo book to Philippines President Gloria Arroyo after lunch at the Malacanang Palace on 10 October 2006. 
Playing golf with former Philippines President Fidel Ramos at Camp Aguinaldo golf course in Quezon City on 11 October 2006. 
With former Phlippines President Joseph Estrada at his house in Greenhills, Manila, on 18 april 2008. 
Breakfast with Imelda Marcos – Illocos Norte, 26 March 2010. 
Television interview at the celebration to mark AFP’s 50 anniversary of having a bureau in Beijing in June 2008. 
Meeting Xinhua President Li Conjun at the Great Hall of the People for the World Media Summit organised by the Chinese news agency in October 2009. 
Meeting Xinhua President Li Conjun two years later at the World Media Summit at the Diaoyutai state guest thouse in Beijing on 27 September 2011. With AP President Tom Curley (left) and BBC Director General Mark Thompson. 
Meeting a legend at the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong – Pele on the New York Cosmos Asia tour on 8 March 2011. 
Giving a talk to journalism students at the United International College, Zhuhai on 12 November 2014. 
Guest speaker at OPEN – Opportunity Potential Enthusiasm Now – organised by students at the UIC in Zhuhai, 29 October 2014. 
Talk on ethics and war reporting at South Island School, Hong Kong on 8 January 2015. 
And giving the same talk to journalism students at Hong Kong Baptist University on 27 January 2015. 
Hong Kong Baptist University journalism school tutor group visits the FCC, September 2015. 
Talking about music with the Pop Fugitives – Paul Haswell and Caroline Wright on RTHK’s Sunday Escape, 29 May 2016. 
Speaking to the Azeri media at the New Agency World Congress in Baku. 
You meet an interesting variety of people at the FCC, Hong Kong – with Carlos Ghosn in April 2018 before he became a fugitive from Japanese justice. 
Talking about fake news with Nurul Izzah, Malaysian MP and daughter of Anwar Ibrahim, at a conference organised by the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations at Sunway University outside Kuala Lumpur on 18 August 2018. 
Talking about fake news with Nurul Izzah, Malaysian MP and daughter of Anwar Ibrahim, at a conference organised by the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations at Sunway University outside Kuala Lumpur on 18 August 2018. 
The Asia-Europe Forum’s Editors’ Roundtable on “Exploring the Battle Fronts of ‘Fake News'” at the Brussels Press Club, 15 October 2018. 
Speaking to the Masters in international journalism class at the University of Glasgow,, 29 October 2018 – with Dr Catherine Happer, deputy director of the Glasgow University Media Group. 
Presenting with Iain Williamson, media literacy coordinator at South Island School, at the International Media Education Summit 2 November 2018. 
A “fireside chat” with New York Times A.G. Sulzberger at the FCC, 13 November 2018 . 
Closing panel on cyber-harassment at the FCC journalism conference on 25 March 2019 with (from left) Tim McLaughlin of Wired and The Atlantic, Kristie Lu Stout of CNN and Sonny Swe, founder of Frontier magazine in Myanmar. 
With one of the great newspaper editors — Alan Rusbridger of The Guardian — at the FCC. 
Interviewed by Bulgarian TV after the NAWC fake news session. 
Fake news conference in Bangkok – 19 June 2019. 
Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa at the FCC, 17 May 2019. 
Apple Daily founder and owner Jimmy Lai at the FCC on 20 May 2019. 
Diploma day at the end of teaching the Malaysian Press Institute’s Rebuilding Trust in the Media training course in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. 5 September 2019. 
Giving a master class at the Asian Broadcasting Union congress in Tokyo, 20 November 2019.