Comments on: Fare thee well John Michell

By: Diana Trimble

Diana Trimble — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:19:51 +0000

The memorial was beautiful, with the exception of an unannounced gospel singer who was not one of his friends and whose performance would not have been to John’s taste at all. I did feel that some of John’s truer friends were somewhat sidelined in favour of the BIG NAMES and that was a shame, but to be expected when someone as significant passes on. There was also a noticeable absence of any of his black friends from Notting Hill who spent far more time with him on a regular basis than many of those present. I wonder why that was – did no one think to tell them or did they feel unwelcome? Regardless of this, everyone spoke well and remembered John well and there was an excellent sharing of reminiscences afterwards among those gathered. I agree with what Jason Goodwin says above: that it’s inconceivable that John would have done any spying. He would have found that suggestion faintly hilarious.

By: Jason Goodwin

Jason Goodwin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:28:22 +0000

I have to say that I don’t think JM was a spy ever, though he did do Russian in the Navy and at Cambridge and he loved Russian literature. On the contrary, when he visited Russia post-collapse, some Russians scoffed at his antiquated expressions. He wouldn’t have lasted five minutes as a spy. He was far too open, anyway. But everything else you say is right and well-put.
A Memorial Service is to be held at 12 noon, 2nd July, at All Saints, Notting Hill.

By: Martin Straw

Martin Straw — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:42:41 +0000

Once again, you frighten me with your words, since your notes on John Michell appear to be an exact dictation of my own thoughts.
I remember sitting with John, in the garden of a pub in Glastonbury, over 30 years ago, when he described another zodiac site in England, where the paw of the lion symbol was sculpted into the landscape at a place named Pawon Hill. Its those magic moments of excitement, mixed with statements on the cusps of truth and myth, that will stay with me for ever.