Sir Ludovic Kennedy, journalist, broadcaster, author, parliamentarian, human rights campaigner and war hero has died at the age of 89.
He was born in Edinburgh in 1919. His parents were well to do and were able to send the young Ludovic to Eton and then to Christ College, Cambridge.
In 1939 he joined the Royal Navy and served with much distinction throughout the war mainly on a destroyer. He published his first book entitled Sub Lieutenant in 1942 at the age of 22.
After the war he became a broadcaster eventually working for both the BBC and ITV presenting the flagship programmes of This Week, Panorama, 24 Hours amongst others.
He met and married the ballerina and film start Moira Shearer in 1950 and they were married for 56 years until her death in 2006.
In 1958 Sir Ludovic stood as Liberal candidate in the Rochdale by election and although he came only second he recorded the largest Liberal vote for 20 years.
Sir Ludovic campaigned tirelessly to right legal wrongs such as the convictions for murder of Christie and Bentley. He was also involved in the campaigns to free the Guilford 4 and the Birmingham 6 convicted of IRA bombing attacks. He was invariably proved correct and convictions were quashed following his investigations.
He wanted independence for Scotland and lambasted the Christian Church for its beliefs which he found ridiculous.
He interviewed most of the famous and influential people of the 20th century including Enoch Powell, Lord Mountbatten, Harold MacMillan and John F Kennedy. He became the poet writer in residence at Edinburgh University.
He was knighted in 1994.
He is survived by three daughters and a son. He was immensely proud of all his children.
He was considered to be one of the foremost investigative journalists of his age, a wonderful husband and doting father.
