This weekend marks a remarkable milestone for my friend and Fleet Street legend, Paul Hill, who has just celebrated his 50th anniversary — with a fitting mention on Radio Two, alongside his lovely wife.

Paul is one of those rare figures without whom newspapers simply would not function. Readers never saw his byline, yet his presence was felt in every corner of the world.

For decades, Paul was the Daily Telegraph's foreign desk manager — the steady hand who organised a far-flung army of correspondents, arranged the flights, secured the body armour, and made sure that laptops, helmets and, sometimes, crowbars, were in the right place at the right time.

He was the man behind the curtain, orchestrating coverage of the world's most complicated stories, whether it was dispatching a correspondent to a war zone or keeping track of the most colourful characters in journalism — not least a certain Boris Johnson during his Brussels days.

Paul had the knack of managing chaos with calmness, humour, and a sense of loyalty that made him indispensable.

Those of us who worked with him knew that he was more than just a desk manager. He was a friend, a confidant, and the sort of man who could cut through the noise with a wry remark or a piece of practical advice.

Picture shows Paul Hill (right) and Mike Leidig (left) on a recent trip to a Biergarten, undated. He celebrated his 50th anniversary. Note: Licensed photo. (Newsflash)

He embodied that old-fashioned Fleet Street spirit — resourceful, unflappable, and fiercely protective of his correspondents.

To celebrate 50 years of marriage alongside 50 years of service to journalism feels exactly right. Both achievements are built on commitment, trust, and a quiet determination to see things through.

Paul never sought the limelight, but this weekend, it shines on him. And rightly so.

He was — and is — what all of us who worked alongside him knew him to be: the man who made the impossible possible, and who did it with kindness and good humour.

(Mike Leidig / newsX)