PERCY STEVEN,

who has died aged 79, was a distinguished actor and theatre director, but secured his place in the history books through his love life. Steven and his companion of 51 years, Professor Roger Lockyer, were one of the first gay couples to enter into a civil partnership in England and Wales in 2005. the couple, who appeared in the BBC film Against the Law last year, tied the knot when same-sex marriages were made legal in 2014. Historian Lockyer died last October aged 89. A friend of Percy says: ‘His astuteness and vitality will be remembered by many.’