Our father, Paul McQuail, who has died aged 82, worked as a civil servant. He served principally at the Department of the Environment, under ministers in governments of various hues, with diligence and, we imagine, some forbearance. He was secretary to the Royal Commission on the Press in the 1970s and chief executive of the London borough of Hounslow in the 80s.
Paul was born in London to Irish parents, Anne (nee Mullen) and Christopher McQuail. During the second world war, the family – now including Paul’s younger brothers, Denis and Brian – moved to Holyhead, on the Isle of Anglesey, before settling in Birkenhead, near Liverpool. After school at St Anselm’s college, Wirral, Paul learned Russian during national service and studied English at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, before moving to Hampstead, north London, to begin his working life.
He met his future wife, Susan Adler, in a romantic way, on the London Underground. After their marriage in 1964 they moved to the house in Peckham Rye that they turned into a home distinctively their own, where we were both born. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there.
Paul’s career reflected the responsibility he felt to serve society usefully. A legacy of his Irish heritage, perhaps, was his identification with the underdog, which became apparent in his involvement with Britain’s inner cities. After retirement in 1994, he became chair of Alcohol Concern and a director of Sustrans, which reflected his enthusiasm for cycling as a regular commuter and on pilgrim routes all over Europe.
He liked to indulge his many passions, including books, plays, concerts, the cinema, fine art, architecture, foreign travel, hill-walking, wine, good beer, good food and good company. He had a talent for making and keeping friends. There were few subjects about which he was unable to comment with both wit and insight.
He has been described by former colleagues as erudite, professional and humane, and by friends as brave, wise and a wonderfully thoughtful companion.
He is survived by Susan, by us and by three grandchildren.
