Bamber Gascoigne

I met Bamber Gascoigne twice in my life: the first was when I was first reserve of our Magdalene College University Challenge team.

Gascoigne had attended  the same college and spoke to us after an ignominious defeat by Hertford Oxford. He was a courteous  man and a clever one too as he composed the questions

The second occasion was some 30 years later when dining al fresco in Provence.  He was on the table next door.

As we ordered I could nor resist saying to our party:

“What is your starter  for ten?”

I always watch University Challenge but I prefer Gascoigne as presenter to  the more irascible Jeremy Paxman who not infrequently chides a team “Get a move on …”.

Gascoigne would never say that.

He will be sorely missed …. and not just on  uiversity challenge