Obituary: James Crespi
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AT 17 I went up to Aberystwyth to read Law. James Crespi, only a few years older, had just come down from Cambridge to teach it, writes John Morris (further to the obituary by Brian Masters, 6 July).
He enlightened us on Contract. 'You walk down the promenade, and you observe a weighing machine. It offers to weigh you. By the way (this was 1949), how much money do you put in a weighing machine, is it a sixpence or a shilling?'
I and other 17-year-olds were enthralled. How could a man be so divorced from real life? The man, who must be from the Gods, was of normal shape and size. He was only 21 or 22.
Years later I appeared opposite him in the small west courts at the Bailey. A cry went up, 'Bomb in the Bailey'. No one knew where to turn. But for the fact that I went to collect my robes there, I would have walked across with Crespi to the Bar mess in the main courts. I would not have been able to say as he did: 'The doctors say I will die because of my fat. Now the doctors say I have only been saved because of my fat.' From 1973 on we enjoyed many a convivial conversation in the morning at the beginning of the day in the Bailey.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments