Comments on: in memoriam Chris Lightfoot, 1978 – 2007

By: andrew

andrew — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:58:37 +0000

Graham wrote: “I am sure that Oggie would have accepted Chip & Pin if he found its operation to be perfect. The website you directed me to clearly show that doubts remain. What to do? Any advice?”

Yes – get a Chip and Signature card:

http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/business/card_payments/faqs.html#sinature

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_chipandpin.hcsp

Your bank may try to tell you C&S credit cards are only for disabled customers, but persist. They can issue a C&S card to anyone. I got one from Nationwide with some persistence.

By: Graham Feakins

Graham Feakins — Mon, 21 May 2007 01:55:26 +0000

Thanks Andy and sorry for the belated reply but you will appreciate I am not a frequent visitor. In fact, it is only because I today received an e-mail from Oggie’s sister that I have returned. No, the obsession was not irrational but could have started from the principle of never trusting something unless proven. You know, our once valued concept of “Innocent until proved guilty” and, therefore, analyse something before trusting it. Oggie’s father did not trust direct debit, having analysed the operation concerned. I am sure that Oggie would have accepted Chip & Pin if he found its operation to be perfect. The website you directed me to clearly show that doubts remain. What to do? Any advice? I have enough trouble contacting my own bank by even telephone, even though I have held my account there since 1975 – for more than 30 years! Luckily, there is a good local pub where I can I have a pint of Fullers London Pride, whilst the bank sorts out my complaint. Please don’t don’t worry – I can comlain as well. Politicians do not seem to get my messages into their heads, though. I am only a subject of The U.K. etc.

Graham

By: andrew

andrew — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:58:20 +0000

Graham – Are you suggesting that Chris’ concerns about Chip and PIN were an irrational obsession? If so, you should read Ross Anderson’s “Chip and Spin” web site (http://www.chipandspin.co.uk/) and relevant posts at the Light Blue Touchpaper blog, such as this one: http://www.lightbluetouchpaper.org/2007/02/08/financial-ombudsman-on-chip-pin-infallibility/

Chris was always fiercely rational. His concerns about ID cards and Chip and PIN credit cards were both based on reasoned analysis, and certainly not a lack of trust in everything and everyone.

Many thanks for your good wishes. We certainly do intend to keep his spirt going.

By: Graham Feakins

Graham Feakins — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 22:45:52 +0000

Dear All, I have read a number of the comments about the late Chris Lightfoot. I am a Partner in the firm of Chartered Patent Attorneys, of whom his late father, Bob Lightfoot was one time Senior Partner. I therefore knew Oggie from a young age. This fear of Chip & Pin etc. surely must have been passed on to him by his father, who had an absolute obsession, for example, about Direct Debit with the Firm’s Bank, and therefore refused totally to entertain it. If Bob could exchange cash by hand and within sight, then that was the preferred method of payment. This attitude clearly passed to Oggie and he must have developed it to an obsession, perhaps to a lack of trust in everything and everyone. I am very sad to hear of his passing and am glad that the church was full for his funeral. It is difficult to understand why such a person should take his own life, however, especially if he had so much to offer.
Keep his spirit going! Best wishes,
Graham Feakins

By: doctorvee » Chris Lightfoot

doctorvee » Chris Lightfoot — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:32:35 +0000

[...] tfoot was entirely selfless and helpful. He was also innovative and very clever as well as highly principled and passionate in the causes he believed in. Most importantly, he believed in the rig [...]

By: Chris Lightfoot « The ARCH Blog

Chris Lightfoot « The ARCH Blog — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:17:55 +0000

[...] #8217;s death last month has now been publicly announced, and there are lovely tributes at No2ID, MySociety and Spyblog. I keep seeing an image in my mind of him staggering into the underground [...]