It was with much sadness that I have learnt of the death of former UK Labour leader Michael Foot. He was a man of huge intellect who could rattle off an impromptu speech right off the cuff in an interesting and warm manner. Even the most complex issues could be understood through the use of a lucid, engaging narrative style.

I think that there will be more than one prayer said for him in the inevitable memorial at St Bride's or the Popin Jay or French House or Gay Hussar (if still there).

Despite the deficiencies of a 1960s education, his writings in my later life took me on a wonderful journey of discovery of some of the great figures in our literary history, Thomas Paine and William Hazlitt to name but two.

I took the time to re-read Tony Blair's letter to Michael and know others share my view on his literary genius.

It is for this, and his love that each of us deserves a good life, full of freedom, that Michael should be remembered and I hope that his writings will be as commonplace in schools and colleges throughout the world as are Dickens's and Shakespeare's so that in reading them we can pay our own "Debts of Honour" to a giant. I am sure that those involved in politics and journalism would share our condolences with his family.