Being Frank
From Rupert Hambro Sir: I read Charles Moore's charming tribute to Frank Johnson (The smart boy always thrilled by the story', 30 December). I remember our once finding Frank in the garden of a hotel in Greve in Chianti, deep in a book. When questioned, he told us that he was determined to understand every word sung in Italian operas and he had decided to hide away to learn the language. He was, however, happy to join us with our two children for lunch in one of the best local eateries. Having told him there was no such thing as a free lunch, he gave us a remarkable description of the whole history of conflict in the Middle East which my children to this day remember as being of greater interest than most of what they learnt at school. We, along with everyone else who so enjoyed his writings, will miss his charm, his wit and his naughty humour.
Rupert Harnbro London SW1
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