Memories of Jim Harris

It leaves a physical ache to find myself talking of Jim in the past tense. I have spent so much of my time thinking about what I would say to him next, on this or that subject. I have so many discussions, so many arguments, still to be finalised. I will just have to put them on hold until we meet again, perhaps, at some Omega point in the future.

Jim was a memorable character. So many memories spring to mind:

• Wonderful, quirky presentations at seminars – who can forget his famous opening line“This the 2^nd time today I have risen from my seat clutching paper in trembling hand.”

· Extraordinary courage and daring, down caves, up mountains, in the sea, in snake infested barns, in far away places.

· Living his philosophy of freedom, driving fast, treating all road signs as advisory, taking the pettifogging bureaucrats head on in court, telling traffic cops to mind their own business.

· Speaking up, making his opinions heard, and damn the consequences. I have treasured for years his opening statement on a late night, new age radio show – “I have here a list of 200 things in which I do not believe.”

· The fascinating, infuriating debates on so many subjects – hypnosis, capital punishment, homeopathy, economics.

· Jim was a scientist to the core, yet also a good musician and singer, with a wry sense of humour, and a disarming manner. He loved the physical and the mental, science and art, good whisky and bad company. Although he might deny it, he was a veritable renaissance man.

· Jim did not suffer fools gladly. If you said something stupid, he would explain to you in excruciating detail just how stupid you had been, then laugh it all off.

· Jim had a superb intellect, a voracious appetite for the written word, an excellent memory, and a great ability to combine all this when communicating. When we moved away from Gauteng, I found myself referring to Jim and his opinions to new friends at the coast so frequently that they expressed a great interest in meeting him. Sadly, this was not to be.

So how will I remember Jim? He was a short, wiry Scotsman, a considerate host, a loving family man, a good friend. He was intelligent and brave and honest. I have always felt that I was lucky to know him. He has left me with more memories than most other men. Goodbye Jim.