21 APRIL 1990, Page 5

Dominic Lawson writes: Jock Bruce- Gardyne, one of The Spectator's

longest standing contributors died last Sunday. In this issue he is remembered by his col- league, Christopher Fildes, and by Nigel Lawson who, as editor, in 1967 introduced Jock to the readers of The Spectator. We also republish Jock's own account of how he learnt that he was suffering from an incurable brain tumour. The fact that he thereafter continued to write his column without interruption until two weeks be- fore his death was a tribute to his extraor- dinary natural gifts as a journalist and his equally remarkable personal courage. The article itself is characteristic of Jock — a mixture of easy humour and unblinking, almost painful honesty. We shall all miss him very much.