Trivia

His greatest and proudest achievement as a film producer was A Night to Remember (1958), the acclaimed account of the sinking of the Titanic, which was doubly satisfying for him because as a six year old boy he had witnessed the launching of the great ship at the Harland & Wolff shipyard on May 31, 1911.

Was an expert gardener and wrote two books on the subject, 'Irish Gardens' and 'Great Botanical Gardens of the World'.

Started his career as a chartered banker, working first in Belfast and London until, at the age of 21, he was transferred to the far east where he worked in India, Ceylon, Siam, Malaya and China, before returning to Ulster in 1939.

Turned to filmmaking during the war after dropping out of a seven year medical course he was studying in London, in order to enter a career in psychoanalysis.

Helped to found Ulster Television in 1959, becoming its first managing director.

Had two children from his marriage to Betty Bastin: Jonathan (b. 1952) and Jane (b. 1953).