I considered this for a moment. ‘I think he was a brave man,’ which I truly do. ‘He was unafraid of the rules that frighten people. He made up his own and one must always admire that. I suppose he was an original. It’s something so many of us strive for and so few of us achieve.’

With that we shook hands and I walked away down Brook Street.

Julian Fellowes

Julian Fellowes, actor, writer, producer, was educated at Ampleforth, Magdalene College, Cambridge and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He trained in repertory theatre at Northampton and Harrogate before making his West End début in 'A Touch of Spring' by Sam Taylor. He is probably best known for his portrayal of the incorrigible Lord Kilwillie in the BBC's series, 'Monarch of the Glen'. In the cinema, he was seen in 'Shadowlands' with Anthony Hopkins, 'Damage' with Jeremy Irons and 'Tomorrow Never Dies' with Pierce Brosnan. As a TV writer his scripts include 'Little Sir Nicholas,' 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' (winner of an International Emmy, 1995) and 'The Prince and the Pauper' (nominated for a Bafta, 1997) which he also produced. His screenplay début for the big screen was 'Gosford Park' directed by Robert Altman, which won a plethora of prizes, not least the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. He has also worked on a new version of 'Vanity Fair' with Reese Witherspoon. He is now writing the book for a new stage musical of 'Mary Poppins' for Cameron Mackintosh/ Disney (autumn 2004). His adaptation of Nigel Balchin's 'A Way Through the Wood', which he also directs, is due for release in 2004, starring Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and Rupert Everett. He and his wife Emma have a son, Peregrine and a dachsund, Fudge.