As I stood waiting to speak in Trafalgar Square at the meeting for Burma, I was for a moment transported back to rehearsals at the Old Vic forty years ago, in the days when it was home to the National Theatre. We were rehearsing a Sunday night showing of ‘In His Own Write’ and I was Me. Victor Spinetti of the Beatles films was directing. As I spoke John Lennon’s verse staring into the blackness of an empty auditorium, now and then somewhere out there a lighter would flicker to reveal Victor’s smiling and lively face encouraging me to talk to him. On Saturday as I stood in the chill of a January afternoon in Trafalgar Square I looked up and and amongst the gathering audience saw a hand waving and then there under a cap and behind a beard, older now but still as lively and encouraging, Victor’s smile and wild, friendly eyes.

When it was over we went out of the cold and into the warmth of his flat on the edge of China Town for tea and the offer of a hot shower to warm up. I didn’t bother with the latter but the Jasmine tea in a big generous cup was very welcome and the gossip and reminiscing was fun.

I’ve still got the signed copy of In His Own Write that John gave me.