Lionel Blue, a British Reform Rabbi and Broadcaster

He appeared at the Kings Southsea last night. He is best known for his wry and gentle sense of humour on "Thought for the Day" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Blue is 80 and still performing, his kindness and common sense shines through. At times he appeared to lose his thread but quickly recovered. He is known to millions through his broadcasting on BBC Radio. Many others know him from his numerous TV appearances and his books, among them 'Bolts from the Blues' and 'Simply Divine'. Using his own experiences and offbeat sense of humour, Rabbi Lionel Blue told a selection of stories, incidents and conversations whose dotty inconsequential flavour will appeal to people from all religions, and from none. He’s thoughtful and funny with it, mixing humour with humility, compassion and common sense. He talks about the people he has known with affection and about himself with a delicious sense of the ridiculous. He can spot when his dog is having an existential crisis and knows that the best cure for insomnia is a straight-from-the-tin baked bean feast. “My aim”, Lionel said, “is to give people the courage to get out of bed”. He made me feel better by recounting that as he's got older his life has got better. His 60's were good, but his 70's were even better. At the interval and at the end he was available to sign books and share thoughts. What a lovely guy.