Lynne Walker

Further to Hilary Finch's obituary of Lynne Walker in yesterday's paper, David Lister, The Independent's arts editor, writes:

Lynne Walker was the sort of critic that every national newspaper should have: a passionate, highly informed writer based outside of London, who championed her local companies. In Lynne's case, the Hallé orchestra and Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester certainly benefitted from her enthusiasm; but she would also be seen at places such as the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Her unceasingly sunny nature, combined with an unbridled passion for music and theatre, made her as popular with the arts world in the north as she was with her editors in London.