Peter Gibbs-Kennet writes: Walter (obituary, Aug 13) and Richard James were my maternal grandmother’s half-brothers. I spent the most time with Walter after he passed 100. He was a genial host — “What would you like? There’s beer, gin, whisky, wine . . .” — his only regret being that he had to limit his own intake. His conversation ranged widely. It always included current affairs since he had usually read more than one daily newspaper, remarking, say, on history repeating itself in the Middle East and the plight of Christians there or the sad current state of the Liberal party.
He also talked about his postgraduate travels during the 1930s in Germany, partly in the company of a young woman friend training as a singer, and Italy, where he camped for a night in Stupor Mundi’s Castel del Monte in Apulia. No longer able to go to Italy he was intrigued by Google Street’s potential for vicarious travel and the possibility of “revisiting” Lucca, a favourite place. In this, he shared a family penchant for technology, with an interest in vintage cars (he greatly regretted having to give up driving after passing 100). He also would discuss aspects of his working life, including his first job as a leader writer for the Manchester Guardian (“no need to be expert, one just boned up on whatever topic one was given”), which was later accompanied by service as a fireman during the bombing of that city.