He's 40 years dead this year.

I feel an especial closeness to him, as he died only five days after I was born.

His Diaries are among my favourite pieces of writing: appallingly funny, scandalous and sad - often all three at the same time.

And his plays are as emblematic of their era as the music of the Beatles and the Stones. 

I really wish I'd met him. 

Any else got any opinions on 'the Oscar Wilde of welfare state gentility'?