I knew the frost had blighted, and it would not be long before the wind came and shook. But it was still a shock.

Ron was the rock on which The Sun stood for much longer than the 20-odd years I was there.

One of nature's gentlemen, but he also had a mean streak of humour. I recall his accompanying my broomstick dance on his fife and realizing half way through that his playing was getting subtly but irrevocably faster and faster.

It's time to go now.