My friend Cas Smith, who has died aged 78, was a well-known and much-loved figure on the south Wales folk music scene for more than 40 years....

My friend Agnes Winter, who has died aged 83 after a short illness, was a leading veterinary surgeon and scientist, and like me a Wensleydale sheep...

My friend Agnes Winter, who has died aged 83 after a short illness, was a leading veterinary surgeon and scientist, and like me a Wensleydale sheep...

My father, Alex Kirby, who has died of cancer aged 86, was a well-respected journalist – at the BBC and elsewhere – and, despite beginning his...

My father, Alex Kirby, who has died of cancer aged 86, was a well-respected journalist – at the BBC and elsewhere – and, despite beginning his...

My twin brother, Martyn Webster, who has died aged 86, was influential in the development of microsurgery both in the UK and internationally....

My twin brother, Martyn Webster, who has died aged 86, was influential in the development of microsurgery both in the UK and internationally....

My father, Desmond McConnell, who has died aged 95, made a great contribution to mineralogy, inspiring scientists around the world....

My father, Desmond McConnell, who has died aged 95, made a great contribution to mineralogy, inspiring scientists around the world....

My stepfather, Frank Burnet, who has died aged 77, was a pioneering science communicator — part academic, part showman — and was instrumental in...