Memorial Service

They sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic in Chelsea Old Church to celebrate the life of Sir Alistair Horne, soldier, secret agent, political biographer, historian and foreign correspondent.

He had a lifelong love of America, starting with the war years when he was evacuated as a child, and culminating with a visit to the White House when George W Bush invited him to the Oval Office.

‘He was very discreet about his meetings with powerful and influential people,’ said his Oxford colleague, Professor Margaret Macmillan, former Warden of St Antony’s College, where he was an honorary fellow, in her eulogy. ‘He never breathed a word about what was discussed.’

Sir Alistair told the President how Harold Macmillan had said the top job is a lonely position. ‘How can you be lonely when all these guys are hanging around?’ replied Dubya, gesturing to his aides.

‘He loved good wine, good conversation and good gossip,’ Professor Macmillan said, mentioning Napoleon, Montgomery, Macmillan and Kissinger among the characters who fascinated him with their impact on history.

Skiing chum Robin Murray-phillipson said, ‘One thing that has always puzzled me is how on earth Alistair was ever given the Légion d’honneur by the French – when he had written at least three books about how the French were always being beaten and how inefficient and useless they were. I always thought he would never again be welcomed in France, let alone be given a French decoration.’

Phillipson, who called Sir Alistair ‘Hornet’ or Big Al, said he had missed the announcement of his knighthood in the Court Circular in 2003.

‘He told me it was in the Diplomatic List but I told him I couldn’t think of anyone less diplomatic.’

Grandson Alistair Berven read from Ecclesiastes: ‘To every thing there is a reason…’ Granddaughter Lizzie Harford read from The Tempest: ‘Our revels now are ended…’ Her sister, Auriol Harford, read from Gone from my Sight, by Henry Van Dyke.