His potrayal of the dying brass band conductor, in Brassed Off, actually managed to change the minds of several politicians of the time about coal field regeneration projects. Anyone who has seen his speech at the Albert Hall, at the end of that film, could not but be moved by the whole sentiment of what he said and did.

Sadly I missed the opportunity of seeing him play Prospero in Shakespeare's "Tempest" in Manchester a couple of years ago. I now will always regret not having seen him in live theatre.

One film that has not been mentioned, thus far, here is "In the Name of the Father", about the Guildford Four, where he played the part of Giuseppe Conlon.

There was something about his style of acting that was faciniating. His intensity and loyalty to a part gave his performance something of an edge I always found.

A sad loss to his Family of course but also to theatre and a public who revered him. The flag should be at half mast in Warrington today... they have lost a rather special son

May he rest in peace, though I suspect if heaven has a theatre he will be treading the boards again soon enough. Can you imagine him meeting with Shakespeare? No doubt there would be great mutuality of respect between them.

mp