John Richard Wells, 1947–1999 (1999)

Abstract

John Wells, the economist, died on 27 October 1999, aged 52. An extraordinarily wide cross-section of people came to his funeral service in Cambridge, for John was admired for his powerful economic and political analysis and loved for his integrity, kindness and, when his wretched health allowed it, enormous enthusiasm and energy. In the address it was rightly said that though he was an academic he was not a snob (!); and that he was, it had also to be said, a member of the awkward squads of all the walks of life to which he belonged.

Originally published in The Independent, 1999.