BARRISTER Anthony Lester - later Lord Lester of Herne Hill - was preoccupied for much of his career with causes of equality, human rights and free speech.

FATHER Stephen Rooney was a compassionate and practical Christian pastor with a razor-sharp wit.

THE passing of Vera McVey in her 99th year marked the end of an era for the village of Coagh in Co Tyrone and its connection with a highly respected family.

FOR Jim McReynolds, the customer always came first.

JIM Curran was a one-off, a charismatic character with a sunny spirit, a deadly ability with the one-liners and a determination to taste life through the teeth, and boy did he do it all over Ulster and beyond.

BOBBY Toland will be remembered with great affection, not just by his family who, of course, loved him dearly, but also by his many friends and colleagues in Derry and the north west.

AS head of the University of Atypical, Chris Ledger was never likely to be someone who conformed to expectations.

A gentleman and a scholar, a joker and a king, Claude Maguire is fondly remembered as a generous, learned man with a mischievous sense of humour, a twinkle in his eye and an immense breadth of knowledge.