As an avid R4 and World Service listener down through the years, I always looked forward to Alistair's 'Letter', commenting on the issues of the day, or just relaying some anecdote from his week.
There are re-runs of some of his more celebrated letters at the minute, and I could well live my life out listening to previously un-heard letters. Whether the BBC will continue to do this is another matter, though.

My second post was definitely not intended to suggest the subject of Alistair Cooke's passing was BS...., just that I imagined this thread would probably be more suited 'below the line'.

I didn't always see things the way he did; didn't mean, however that I hadn't the greatest respect for the man.

Indeed with all the recent passings, it gives one pause to comtemplate one's own mortality.

Jim