'He served me a pint': readers' memories and tributes to Nicholas Parsons

‘I thought I had cracked a rib I laughed so much’

We went to a recording of Just a Minute – I thought I had cracked a rib I laughed so much. He was as funny as any of the contestants, no script, all ad libbed and he took all the ribbing in such good part. orbitalgirl

‘I got served a pint by Nicholas Parsons’

I was in the right place at the right time and got served a pint by Nicholas Parsons in a pub in St Andrews. I was on the University of Edinburgh swim team and we had an away gala at St Andrews during his (successful) campaign to be elected rector of the university. He was pulling pints for the students that Wednesday night and our hosts took us to the pub. What a charming fellow, and what a life he had. ACJB

‘I was nominated for rector of the University of St Andrews and Nicholas was also a candidate’

Thirty years ago, in one of the many ridiculous moments in my life (up there alongside standing in for Donny Osmond at a gig) I was nominated by a bunch of nutters for the position of rector of the University of St Andrews. The names of the other candidates, and the chaos I remember causing, much to his amusement, is documented in Nicholas’ autobiography. He won by a mile. I remember I got enough votes to not come last. Attila Stockbroker

‘Nicholas waited at the end to speak to anyone who wanted to’

Ninety-six and he never sounded like it! One the best evenings of my life was getting to go to a JaM show. Nicholas waited at the end to speak to anyone who wanted to. I was too shy, sadly, and would have liked to thank him for probably hundreds of hours of laughter over the last few decades. AzadiGrauniad

‘I had the pleasure of meeting him’

I’m the joint owner of a film library which includes a film Nicholas Parsons did the voiceover for many years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting him at an event just a few years ago and reminded him of the film, which he remembered being involved with. “No more money in it for me I suppose?” he said with a chuckle in his voice. A charming man. So glad that he was with us for very many minutes. SirHectorHogpugh

‘Those immortal words: “From Norwich it’s the quiz of the week”’

Sunday afternoon as a child sat around the open fire. Mum bringing in cakes, sandwiches and cups of tea for our ‘tea’. Then those immortal words “From Norwich it’s the quiz of the week.” MikeHuish

‘Just a Minute was my initiation to British panel shows’

Nicholas Parsons was a delight with his innocent style. Just a Minute was my true initiation to British panel shows. We learn English well in school here in the Netherlands, but there is no way you can learn all the little intricacies of a language, all the colloquialisms, the quirks, or the idioms in school. Just a Minute did that for me. In listening to Nicholas Parsons’ clear diction, his tendency to over-explain or elaborate on the off-the-cuff remarks by the panelists, I learned to appreciate the flexibility of the English language and its suitability to wordplay and comedy in general. Julius van Haastrecht

‘He did a wonderful and very personal show’

I recall going to a show he did of Edward Lear poetry at the Bolton Octagon which must’ve been 35 years ago. It was the main theatre and it could hold hundreds of people. There were approximately 10 of us there, all of whom had been guided to the seats identified by our tickets. Mr Parsons came in and either had not been told there was almost nobody there or did the shock routine very well when he came on stage. He told us all to come up front and then did a wonderful and very personal show. Always liked him a great deal and am deeply saddened. Great life though and much to be very proud of. OogleyPoogley

‘Thank you for always making us laugh’

Growing up in Hong Kong in the 60s and 70s , my dad and I loved listening to Mr Parsons hosting Just A Minute on the radio. Much of it stays in my mind which speaks to the genius of all the panelists. It is an era of quite special and certainly unique British humour which we shall never see again. Thank you, Mr Parsons for always making us laugh. revie