Thankyou for taking an interest in so many things. Reading and digging deep into all happenings. And for showing us how to refine our language and make it our own, and understandable without being forceful or without being precious, but by being deliberate and colourful and hitting just the right tone.

Now is it absurd, or is it a bird? Or is it nothing much more than a turd? The method applied takes a very keen eye. And it came so naturally to you, much more than to I.

Now do I know where to go? Yes I do. And it is largely because of the refinement that I got from you.

John Morrison Clarke, 1948-2017. www.mrjohnclarke.com

Every week it seemed that there was at least one politician who couldn't make it to their interview. John was the fill-in guy.