Martin Amis tells a great story about the time when he and Hitchens, two young men at the time, were having a meal in a restaurant. Just as they'd started, two "hooray Henries" - UK-speak for so-called upper-class, ill-behaved rich oiks - came in and, after speaking to the maitre d', began very noisily and peremptorily, to rearrange tables. Obviously in preparation for a large group.

One of them then went up to the Amis and Hitchens table with the obvious intention of asking them to move and, with a condescending smile on his face, said, "Sorry, chaps, you're going to hate me for this."

Hitchens immediately retorted, "We already hate you," and studiously ignored him. End of conversation. Love him or hate him, he was his own man.