Donald McKay McNicoll, a Dundee-born journalist who worked with the Associated Press news agency in London for 33 years, has died at 93.

Mr McNicoll was educated at Harris Academy. He earned a place at St Andrews University but did not take it up, preferring to become a journalist.

He started as a trainee with D. C. Thomson & Co Ltd. In his early days at The People’s Journal he was reporter, agony aunt and astrologer, while also reporting for The Courier and Evening Telegraph.

He moved to The Sunday Post, then joined The Daily Herald before going to London.

A stroke in 2000 left him paralysed, but he still understood everything.

“He was robbed of clarity of speech and much of his capacity to write, although not the intellect, wit and charm for which he was well known,” son Gavin said after Mr McNicoll’s death in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.

“He was lucid to the end, and died peacefully.”

After his start in journalism, and service in the second world war, he joined the American international news agency AP in 1946 as a reporter. He became editor of the UK desk and then editor of the world desk.

Mr McNicoll had an important role in the introduction of new technology to Fleet Street when computers replaced telegraphers in the news agencies and linotypes and hot-metal production in newspapers.

He regarded his most significant work for the agency as covering the long illness, death and funeral of Sir Winston Churchill, and his stories appeared under his byline in over 8000 newspapers around the world for weeks on end.

He was also AP entertainments editor and knew dozens of stars, among them Joan Collins, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bing Crosby, Rod Stewart and Twiggy.

After retirement in 1979 he wrote for newspapers and magazines from his home in Felsted, Essex. His 72 years in journalism only ended with his stroke.

Childhood polio had put him in leg irons and left him with a limp. He cycled to build strength in his withered legs, managing up to 140 miles in a day across Scotland with friend John Lynch.

The limp meant he was pronounced unfit for frontline service when he volunteered at the start of the second world war but he nevertheless served six years in the Royal Army Medical Corps in England.

He had a passion for teaching and lectured on journalism in London for many years.

Mr McNicoll was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

He is survived by his widow Anna and son Gavin and son Ian by a previous marriage.

Following a private cremation, a funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday in St Columba’s Church, Pont Street, London.

Donations can be made to the Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Ex- Servicemen and Women at Richmond, Surrey.