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[::..about this blog..::]
"...all these worlds..." is a blog by David Hitt. It covers space exploration, decent science fiction, humor (by its very nature), and whatever else I happen to find cool. (Formerly "You Must Fight The Bear")
Name: David Hitt About Me: Inspiring the next generation of explorers... See my complete profile
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The opinions expressed on this page are those of the author, and very likely no one else.
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:: Friday, April 23, 2004 ::
‘Worst Poet in the Universe’ passes away
Chris Tutor sent me this: News has just reached me that Paul Neil Milne Johnstone, immortalised in the radio series of Hitchhiker’s Guide as ‘the worst poet in the universe’ sadly died earlier this month (from pancreatic failure). Johnstone shared a dormitory with Douglas Adams at Brentwood school – you can see a photograph of them together in my book – where he developed a reputation for writing slightly pretentious poetry. However, he must have had some literary skill as he won a prize for English the same year as Douglas and, like Douglas, won a scholarship to study English Literature at Cambridge. He went on to achieve some success in the poetry world as an editor and festival organiser. Famously, he objected to being named in HHGG and his character was thinly disguised in the subsequent book and TV series as ‘Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings.’ David Thomas, a friend of both men, told me: “Although Paul was miffed by Douglas’ epithet he was also amused. It was the inclusion of his then address (Beehive Court, Redbridge) in the first edition that annoyed him.” (NB. In the TV series graphics, Jennings’ address is given as ‘Wasp Villas, Greenbridge’!)