I am sorry to read in THE POST this morning that Ian Jamieson has died.

Ian taught in the English Department at Otago when I was there as an undergraduate, and was an inspiring, eccentric, lively and completely winning lecturer. I wasn’t at all keen to do Middle or Old English, compulsory subjects in those days, but was quickly converted to the pleasures of both - and to the wonders of Chaucer - by his energy, obvious delight in his subject, nicely controlled zaniness. Lots of it, I realise now, was a carefully-prepared performance and presentation aimed to win and keep our attention. It worked! At the time it seemed like a free-wheeling, improvisatory and slightly messy ramble through the works of writers Jamieson talked about like they were old friends. Lecturing needed more showmanship and dazzle in those pre-PowerPoint days, and Ian was a great razzle-dazzler. I’ll try and read some Robert Henryson this weekend in his memory.