A LARGER-than-life pensioner who added colour to the Guardian's letters page with his unusual insights and dry wit - has died aged 81.

Ralph Royce, of Churchfields, South Woodford, began writing to the newspaper after the death of his beloved wife Evelyn in 2002 - focusing on a wide range of subjects, from anti-social behaviour on the streets of Redbridge to international affairs.

At his peak the former tailor, who died of pneumonia and kidney failure on Tuesday April 27, was sending us three or four letters a week, all of which offered something a little different to our usual correspondence.

Mr Royce, who grew up in a Jewish family in the East End, had no children and was not known to have many close relatives in the area, but is fondly remembered by his neighbours in Lyndhurst Court.

Neighbour Gail Hebblethwaite who knew Mr Royce for 25 years said: "It's really sad, he was a lovely man.

"He was an interesting character. He loved being in the paper, and was always telling me when he'd sent a letter in.

"Myself and my neighbour helped him with his laundry and taking his rubbish out and shopping and things like that.

"He was particularly proud of a story the Guardian published about a bad time he'd had in hospital.

"He had a view on nearly everthing."

Mrs Hebblethwaite said Mr Royce had met some colourful characters during his professional career.

She said: "He worked as a tailor in Elephant and Castle and said he'd made suits for people like the Richardsons and The Krays over the years.

"He used to talk about that a lot.

"He was very well read, and particularly liked wit and humour. He had loads of reference books.

"He was also into his classic old films.

"He liked the clothing and cut of the suits and costumes. It came from his life as a tailor.

"He would point out if some clothing was wrong for its era.

"He found it hard to look after himself towards the end.

"He was buried at a cemetery in Edgware the day after he died. Myself and my neighbour were there.

"We'll both miss him."