We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Mark Tully, one of Twyford's most eminent Old Boys. 

He attended the School between 1945 and 1949, where he was appointed Head Boy before joining Marlborough College followed by theology training at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. 

Sir Mark arrived at Twyford for summer term 1945, his intended arrival at the start of the year having been delayed. He soon started to make an impact on the School, doing well in athletics and winning the Middle School Divinity Prize at the end of his first year. There followed a large number of good conduct prizes and mentions for roles in school plays and his leadership qualities, whether as a dormitory senior, house captain or goalkeeper for the football team. One sports report for football mentions that he "always kept [his] cool and saved a great many awkward situations". In his final term at Twyford he won four events at sports day, leading the Mosquitoes as team competition winners; led his dormitory (New School Room) to win the Dormitory Cup, and was awarded the JCH Prize.

He went on to be widely regarded as the BBC’s “voice of India” and remains one of the most distinguished foreign correspondents of his generation. Over a career spanning several decades, his reporting bore witness to many of the defining moments in South Asia’s modern history and shaped global understanding of the region.

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, described Sir Mark as “a towering voice of journalism,” noting that his deep connection with India and its people was evident throughout his work. His coverage encompassed landmark events including the birth of Bangladesh, the Indian Army’s storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, periods of military rule in Pakistan, the Tamil Tigers’ insurgency in Sri Lanka, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Throughout his years with the BBC, Sir Mark became one of the most recognised and trusted voices in India, at a time when alternative sources of independent news were limited. His credibility was such that major events were often believed only once confirmed by his reports.

Born in Calcutta in 1935, Sir Mark spent much of his life in India, developing a rare depth of understanding and affection for the country. He was knighted for services to broadcasting and journalism in the 2002 New Year Honours list, and was awarded both the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, an uncommon honour for a foreign national, reflecting the esteem in which he was held in India.

Sir Mark made his last visit to Twyford in June 2016, when he gave a talk at the inaugural dinner of the Twyford Society, sharing his experiences from his life in India.