Greats gather for Sir John Mortimer

He was someone, it was said today, who dreaded the thought he might not be liked. But it was evident from those who packed Southwark Cathedral today for a celebration of the life of Sir John Mortimer that the playwright, barrister and creator of Rumpole of the Bailey, was very much loved by all.

With Sir John's death now 10 months ago, the mood was celebratory rather than solemn with many jokes about a man who had himself created much good humour.

But there were also tributes to the political passions of Sir John who argued for prisoners' rights, freedom of speech and other good causes.

Paying tribute to "magnificent Mortimer", who died in January aged 85, Lord Kinnock said he was a man of contradictions who was both a reflective introvert and a sparkling extrovert. The former leader of the Labour Party, of which Sir John was a lifelong supporter, said Mortimer was "trying and tender, provocative and disarming, unsure and swashbuckling, naughty and grave, all at the same time".

The service heard Sir John was a man who enjoyed the company of a "harem" of young actresses and other women around him, but who was also a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Among his children is the actress Emily Mortimer and he enjoyed the "delightful revelation" in his 81st year that he was the father of an adult son born to the actress, Wendy Craig, with whom he had an affair in the Sixties.

Ms Craig and Sir John's widow, Penny, were joined at the celebration by many figures from the worlds of showbiz, literature and the arts, as well as Lord Mandelson.

The Duchess of Cornwall made an appearance and others attending included Alan Rickman, Melvyn Bragg, Peter O'Toole, Sir Tom Stoppard, Alan Yentob of the BBC and broadcasters Jeremy Paxman and Jon Snow.

Readings from Sir John's work were given by Sir Derek Jacobi, Patricia Hodge and Edward Fox, and Joss Ackland read from Ecclesiastes and Jeremy Irons read a passage by Thomas Hardy.

There was also music composed by Jon Lord, formerly of rock group Deep Purple. Lord Kinnock added: "The gift he offered most lavishly was himself. He illuminated our lives, he lit up our times."