Comments on: Mike Laws

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:08:49 +0000

Sorry to hear this. His columns in the 1990s attempt to revive Games and Puzzles were by far the best part of that magazine.

By: dac

dac — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:18:27 +0000

I was very sorry to learn this news. Like Don, I knew Mike in the 70s: he and I would sometimes ‘test-drive’ each other’s puzzles for “Games and Puzzles” (he was Jude in those days). Later, when he was editor of the Times Jumbo, he invited me to submit puzzles, and later took me on as a compiler for the daily Times puzzle too: so I have much to be grateful for to Mike. As many others have said, he will be missed.

By: Handel

Handel — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:45:52 +0000

Very sad news. Laura and I met Mike last year at a sloggers and betters, and our impressions echo those of others here: a kind and gentle man with infectious enthusiasm for all things crossword and a razor-sharp mind. A real character who will be much missed.

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:32:14 +0000

Amen to all the above.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:26:50 +0000

Mike, we are sorry to lose you.

You proved a great bloke to be around, and passionately supportive of quality crosswords.

My condolences to your nearest and dearest.

With very best wishes.

John

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:24:42 +0000

Very sad only met him once at the s&b about this time last year when he spent ages trying to get me to do the inquistor. Lovely bloke who I’d hope to meet next week. A great loss indeed.

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:29:59 +0000

In January this year, Mike initiated a dialogue in which he & I discussed putting together a complete index to all the puzzles that have appeared in the Independent weekend magazine over the last two or three decades. We’d made a fair start – I hope this project hasn’t died with him: it would be a fitting tribute.

We’ll miss him.

By: Quixote etc.

Quixote etc. — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:21:08 +0000

Mike was one of my oldest crossword friends, going back to the 70s when we both set for Games and Puzzles. All very sad. Could someone put a notice on Times for The Times please? Don Manley

By: Tees

Tees — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:29:40 +0000

Hear hear. A very gifted man, and one of the great characters.

By: Uncle Yap

Uncle Yap — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:06:35 +0000

I am so sad to hear of Mike’s demise. I met him at one of the London Sloggers & Betters sessions in a London pub and he struck me as a very humble person with such a quick mind. He tried to persuade me to start setting barred puzzles until I told him that on the few occasions that I tackled Mephisto and Azed, I would learn some 20 new words each time that I have never seen before and would never ever see again. Mike had a sense of humour and was so very knowledgeable about things. In the few minutes that I spent talking to him, he made an indelible impression. I think the World of Crosswords will miss him sorely.