Sir John Mortimer 1923-2009

One of the Great Men of the Twentieth Century has gone to join the Great Chambers in the Sky. The Author, Playwright, Barrister and Social Reformer, who defended Liberty's right to do things that offend you all his life died today aged 85. Possibly most famous for the television series and novels featuring the wily barrister Horrace Rumpole.

Met him, spent an amusing afternoon at his place watching small children ride Jeremy Paxman. Sir John himself seemed like one of life's great gentle souls. He turned his home, garden and pool over to a group of seriously underprivileged kids and their assorted minders on the basis that he had a big back yard he wasn't using, and then stood back and watched them all have fun.

So what I really remember about him was that he mooched about in the shade and enjoyed people enjoying themselves.

We need more people like him.

He has spent amount of his time defending freedom of speech while writing a large amount of amusing stories rooting for the underdog. I have enjoyed his writing and so I shall miss him

One of those genuine originals. A man of warmth, wit, depth and principles. He will be missed.

Echoing the above sentiments, he will indeed be missed.

RIP. He was a truly decent bloke and a good egg.