Lord Attenborough 1923-2014.

The poet Linda Ellis wrote a little ditty called The Dash which says that the most significant part of any any tombstone is the dash between dates of birth and death. Thousands of people were born in 1923, a similar number will die in 2014 but how many could claim to have spent their dash as wonderfully as Sir Richard Attenborough? War hero, actor, Oscar-winning director, philanthropist, founding father of commercial radio and chairman of Chelsea FC. For me, perhaps his greatest achievement was his ceaseless campaigning for an end to apartheid, culminating to his directing the magnificent Cry Freedom. In the film, this was the music played at Steve Biko’s funeral. Because of everything it represents, I do hope they play it at Sir Dickie’s.