Journalists' journalist Keith Waterhouse has died and with his demise another final nail in the coffin of Great British scribes.
With writing partner Willis Hall, KW penned the iconic Billy Liar, filmed just a few miles from here in Bradford circa 1961.
Like many of his generation, Waterhouse moved from his early radicalism and Daily Mirror column espousing Labour's cause to the Mail and growing reactionary politics. I found his later stuff tedious. But in his heyday he was a champion of wonderful writing- his book on Daily Mirror style was a classic for all aspiring journos who wanted to express themselves clearly and well. And his famous advice about fish and chips still holds true today.
There are only two possible accompaniments, he said, to the Great British Dish and they are either a steaming pot of tea or champagne.
When I go to Brighton in a couple of weeks' time, might well throw financial penury to the winds and have a bottle of the latter in his memory...........
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