Harry Mount, Oldie editor, writes:

In many ways, it’s remarkable that Wilfred, our very own Gentleman of the Road, lived to the age of 82. He clocked up over 300 Oldie pieces since he was recruited by his old Oxford friend Richard Ingrams in 1997.

For decades, he slept on the streets and on church floors, and in homeless shelters, occasional hotels – and prisons. And he recently had a toe amputated.

Despite all that, he was at the last Oldie Christmas party at the Garrick Club, supersmart in tweed jacket and Indiana Jones hat. His immaculate, handwritten copy was always on time.

De mortuis nihil nisi bonum isn’t a principle Wilfred subscribed to. He could be rude – to Oldie staff and to the hoteliers he fled without paying. He shoplifted and stole from church collection boxes.

While many readers adored Wilfred, plenty couldn’t stand him – letters from both camps poured in. But that’s the sign of a great columnist – to be loved and hated in equal measure.

With his intelligence and forensic self-examination, he knew exactly how he came across. Another sign of a great columnist is honesty – a quality he showed in his last letter to The Oldie, sent on 12th February 2020 from his ward:

‘I am in hospital, having had a heart attack on 17/12/19. I want to die but seem unable to. I sent April copy last week – hope it arrives safely. Please put another payment through.’

He died a week later. That April copy is on page 43. How sad it is to run the last column by a journalist of extreme talent, honesty, wit – and mischief. He will be deeply missed at Oldie Towers.