Bill Ford (1953-2007)

I just learned of the death of an old friend and comrade of mine, Bill Ford. Bill could be infuriatingly pedantic (not surprising - he was a translator, after all), but he was incredibly generous, and great company. I spent many afternoons watching rugby round his and Helene's flat in Paris, drinking beer and eating saucisson sec. For five years we worked together incredibly closely, trying to build the small left-wing group he'd founded in France, Pouvoir Ouvrier. He eventually dropped out in 1989, and I think the last time I was in contact with him was a few years ago when I sent him a copy of a review of the English-language edition of the memoirs of his father-in-law, Paul Steinberg. The proof that we were completely out of touch is that he died in July, and I only just heard about it. There was an excellent obituary in The Scotsman (reproduced here), probably written by his pal, the BBC journalist Gordon Brewer. I learnt quite a bit from this, including that he was a close friend of Gordon Brown, although their politics could scarcely have been further apart! I must now find the right words to write to Helene. Ciao, Bill. I told you the cigarettes were bad for you.