Obituary: Anthony Burgess

MAY I add to Roger Lewis's obituary of Anthony Burgess (26 November) something on what enormous fun Burgess was to be with? writes Susan Hill.

I took part with him in two series of book quizzes for BBC television broadcast over Christmas in the early Eighties. I was extremely intimidated at the thought of meeting and working with a man whose intellectual reputation was so formidable. I need not have worried. He was a joy to be with, warm, generous, exuberant, fascinatingly full of anecdotes, sparking off bits of erudition like a permanently revolving Catherine wheel.

But the best bit came when some technical hitch had us all kicking our heels for an hour. It was late on Sunday, the studios were deserted and Anthony and I went through dim corridors in search of food and drink. Instead we found a drama furniture store containing a white grand piano. Anthony sat down, cigar between his lips, and played anything and everything from Fats Waller numbers to 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. It was incongruous and hugely enjoyable.