FTW co-founder dies

John and Leona aboard the Queen Mary on a Transatlantic voyage in the 1950s. Leona Marsh, co-founder with her late husband John H Marsh of Now Media and managing editor of FTW’s sister publication, Travel News Weekly, died on Friday at 11am. Leona was diagnosed with brain cancer in April while still actively involved in TNW shortly before her eightieth birthday. Driven by her passion for the publication, she worked until hours before being admitted to hospital for surgery in May. Surrounded by family and friends she died at her home in Forest Town, Johannesburg John, who died aged 82 in 1996, and Leona made a formidable team. Both had an immensely positive spirit and an energy to get things done that became legendary. In 1953 they decided to start an organisation aimed at promoting travel and trade in the belief that people could be encouraged to become more understanding and tolerant of others by travelling for pleasure as well as for business. It was an ideal that was appropriate with the Cold War looming and the Second World War still a searing memory. At that point John was also a best-selling non-fiction author (Skeleton Coast, No Pathway Here) and had become extremely influential in shipping and travel matters. The jet age was just dawning as they published South Africa’s first travel magazine, an annual, “The South African’s Guide to Southern Africa and the World”. It was followed by a monthly “Let’s Go”. It was a struggle until the launch of TNW’s quick-read format, the success of which became a model for a number of titles including the company’s flagship Freight & Trading Weekly. Specialist printed and online titles such as “Cargo Info Africa”, “Travelinfo”, “Travel News Now”, “SA Tourism Update” and “Business Travel Now” followed. Leona is survived by four children Shayne, Lee, Michael and David, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. David has been managing director of Now Media since 1987. His two sons, Craig and Anton, are now involved in developing new electronic media products for the company.