Science is not a blasphemy; the wilful rejection of its insights is.

I only met him once, but he stands tall among the handful of people whose words and works have significantly shaped my life.

His gentle voice, visibly reaching for, and then using, exactly the right words, with characteristic flailing arms to emphasise the point, was unique, commanding and magnificently engaging.

I last saw him in London some years ago describing, amongst other things, a recent conversation that he’d had with his son about the absolute number of war dead in successive centuries. Of all topics!. His curiosity was boundless. He articulated thoughts so well and produced analogies and metaphors to help explain even the most abstract point.

Rest well, sir.