Teacher, editor and royal correspondent. Died aged 96.
When communications were restored in Fiji after the Army coups of 1987, Sir Leonard Usher was invited to write unofficial descriptions of what was happening. His letters went to Buckingham Palace, for the attention of the Queen.
The letters were newsyand descriptive rather than judgmental. They contained crisp comments on political trends and individuals, drawn from Sir Leonard's long career in Fiji and friendship with Fijian leaders.
That career began in 1930, when Paeroa-born Sir Leonard arrived as a newly qualified teacher at the Levuka Public School on a one-year contract.
He became headmaster, then moved on to head the Provincial Schools, and from there to Queen Victoria School, established mainly for the sons of Fijian chiefs.
One of his pupils was Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, later to become Prime Minister and then President of Fiji.
During the war Sir Leonard was seconded to the Army to run the Government information office in Suva.
When the war ended, the office became the information department, which Sir Leonard continued to head. In this role he started the first local news broadcasts.
In 1957, he joined the Fiji Times as an executive director, later becoming the editor. In the early days the paper was produced by hand-feeding the printing press, and circulation was limited.
When Sir Leonard introduced offset printing and computer typesetting, the circulation of the paper increased virtually overnight to many thousands.
He retired from the Fiji Times in 1973, taking on roles in Fiji's business world. He served nine years on the Suva City Council and four terms as mayor.
He never forgot his childhood links. One of his last business appointments was as chairman of Island Bottlers which had the Lemon & Paeroa franchise in Fiji.
Sir Leonard, who died in Fiji, is survived by his daughter Lala, son Miles, and six grandchildren.
