John Thaw was responsible for one of the most extraordinary performances I ever witnessed on a British stage when he played the father in Arthur Millers All my sons at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. People all over the theatre were in tears so moved were they by his astonishing ability to become a character so completely that you were dragged along into believing whatever he wanted you to. To my mind he stands alongside the giants of male British acting like Lawrence Olivier and John Gielgud. My sympathies go to Sheila and the rest of his family and friends-Britain has lost a fine fine actor-a sad day indeed. We may not look on his like again in a hurry.

Phil Seddon, Manchester UK