John MacMillan

Very sad to hear about Patrick Stewart’s passing. A true gentle giant. I imagine, given his kindness, that it'll turn out more of us have a Patrick Stewart story than you'd imagine. Here’s my little one: Patrick was incredibly kind to me when I was a young parliamentary candidate. He'd been a party member in the area I was standing in, having lived there for years. I'd sent Christmas cards with my contact details and to all the local Labour Party members. Obviously, given the life he led, he moved around a lot, so when a few weeks or months later I spotted a missed call and a voicemail, imagine my shock and awe to hear Patrick Stewart's voice. He’d kindly shared his number so that I could give him a call back because he was keen to chat. I couldn't quite believe it (I still can’t). I was about 20 and it took quite a lot of steeling myself up before mustering up the courage to call him back! And, honestly, the loveliest person picked up the phone. He shared with me how he loved the area and he'd been away a lot, and how he'd have wanted to have helped more if he could. He wanted to thank me for the card and for being in touch, and for doing a brave thing in standing up for the values we shared. He went quiet midway through the conversation and I thought perhaps the line had cut off. But actually, it turned out, it was because he’d spotted a rare woodpecker in his garden. He was full of delight in the sight of it, and was regaling this and his recent sightings of others down the phone to me. What a genuinely lovely, kind, inspirational man. I grew up looking to the stars because of Star Trek — so many of us did. His character displayed leadership to the next generation. Our world has been, and will long be, brighter for having had Patrick Stewart in it. Thinking of Patrick’s loved ones today.