I know I shall not be alone in missing the dry and warm wit of the lugubrious Sir Clement Freud, who has just died aged 84. He was always superb on Just a Minute, and I remember hearing him bantering away not so long ago.
He was also very charming company and I first met him as a very shy cub reporter in Wisbech when he was our local MP. He was the distinguished speaker at a dinner which I was sent to report on.
I don’t know whether I was sent there deliberately as a joke, but when I arrived, I discovered I was the only female present. It was the rugby club’s annual dinner and they had planned an evening of risque jokes for an all-male audience. They had hoped for quite a “blue” evening. I did offer to leave, but Sir Clement wouldn’t hear of it.
I was very embarrassed, but he insisted I sat next to him at the top table and was very attentive. The tone of the evening was modified for my presence and Sir Clement later invited me out for lunch. I was in total awe of him. He also invited me to Westminster, which I sadly never took up.
And what an amazing family he comes from, though they do not seem interested in following in his political footsteps.
You should have gone, Ellee!
What a brilliant experience, and a great memory to have of an obvious gentleman.
Fancy meeting him! How wonderful. I loved the way, on Just a Minute, he would, on occasion, play it for laughs rather than to get the points.
So sad to hear of the passing of this fine person.
What a wonderful opportunity, to have met him and to be treated in such a charming way.
It is a shame you passed up the Westminster opportunity I have been there with one of my local MPs and hope to again later this year.
He sounds like a charming man indeed Ellee. What a lovely experience for you to have met him.
Ellee: You meet so many fascinating personalities and I can’t help but feel that this speaks so highly of you. Others surely recognize you for your wonderful humility and caring for the world around you. This man sounds like a true gentleman and with the gift of friendship that reflects so well on who you are as a good person! My condolences on his passing!!
I remember Sir Clement’s wife too, Jill, who was a great supporter of the local theatre, and still is in Suffolk.
Yes, passing up a trip to Westminster with Sir Clement is one of my regrets.
How lucky to have met him Ellee. I agree he was such an inspiration of a man. He will be sorely missed.
You met him? How wonderful! I loved watching him and listening to his views on so many topics and he’ll be sadly missed. He really was an inspiration to so many with his dry wit and humour. He and Ustinov were the last of the “old school” who were always such a pleasure to watch.
I hadn’t realised he was 84. He seemed ageless. Lucky you, to have met him!
When I lived in the UK I loved him on chat shows.
Wow it wasn’t just a handshake meeting then – you spent some time and it seems such a lovely time with a remarkable person. I envy you, Ellee as I too always liked him and am sad he’s gone. I’m so glad you were able to have that moment and share it with us.
Pip, good to hear from you. I was so shy in those days, but I do remember that dinner very well. I even have a picture of us together somewhere. I had very short hair then and a wore a halter neck dress.