“I had a drink or two with Duncan hours before he died,” says long-time friend actor and director Michael Dunleavy. He went out as if on impulse. He had lived like that. He was a grand example of the Celtic soul: he had a hunger for life, song, banter, laughter, dreams, enthusiasm, social involvement, teamwork.

Having grown portly in his early forties, he was cajoled into jogging. He lost weight and went on to earn ten Comrades Marathon medals. He sang for the Napac Opera Chorus and the Durban Men's Choir. He did good work with Scottish Schools, obtaining bursaries for deserving students. He belonged to Rotary (Kloof) and very recently was involved in schools Interact groups, mainly the Fulton School for the Deaf.

“At work or at play, he was imbued with a catching kind of zest. He is sadly mourned. Slainte, Duncan.”