Poetic Obituaries: [Alan Haughton] was also a collector of books,

and his shelves contained first editions of Dickens, Byron, Yeats and Joyce alongside the poetry of Ted Hughes and TS Eliot, his favourite poets. An author, his book of poems, Variations of Ambush , was reprinted.

Casting a wry look at life, his last poem, written just a few days before he died, anticipated his death. Describing his ageing body, he wrote: "Perhaps I should abandon it/Quietly slip away/Over the light blue hills at sunrise/Leave the vehicle for others to dispose of. . . ."

An avid reader, he died in his sleep with three books at his bedside.

from The Irish Times: All-round sportsman and tennis champion who represented Ireland in Davis Cup

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