I had a natter with Humph in Exeter just six weeks before he died. He had all the time in the world for anyone who wanted to talk to him, even after a long gig. Lovely chap.

Indeed. The first time I met him - which was some years before I played with him - was in Broadcasting House. The jug band I played in in those days (The Egbert Sousé All Stars) was composed mainly of BBC staff, and we used to rehearse in an empty studio in BH on Monday nights. We piled into a lift as usual, about 10 to 8 one Monday evening. We stopped at one floor and the door opened, to reveal: Humph.

He eyed the lift full of instruments and exclaimed, "Good lord, who are you lot?" We explained and then got talking. Suddenly, at about 2 minutes to 8, he looked at his watch, said, "Oh fuck! I'm on the air any minute now," and shot off down the corridor to his studio.

A memorable moment with a great and good man.