There is no one word that would adequately describe Val Lamb. If I were to ask a dozen people for a single word, I daresay I might get a dozen different answers. For me, when I first met him, I found him captivating.

I had known of Valentine Lamb for most of my life. I was just 13 years of age when he took over the editorship of The Irish Field. A couple of years into my working life I can recall getting an invitation to lunch with him, something I was very nervous about given his position. Val was a perfect and most generous host.