I had the pleasure to meet Sir Donald at several events over the years and when you chatted he was the same off screen as on. I still recall telling him that a photograph signed by him, Clark Gable and Grace Kelly had just sold for £500. Sir Donald was cast as the young man in the story, but told me Ford was hard to work with and it was not a happy memory. I think Sir Donald’s best film was the 1950s Ealing movie The Cruel Sea with Jack Hawkins, although others best remember him for his screen comedy roles. The last time I saw Sir Donald was at John Mills’ memorial service and now he has joined that ever-growing list of 1950s stars of the silver screen taking their final bows.