Professor Sir Patrick Bateson, who died on August 1st 2017, at the age of 79, was a cultured and amusing but persuasive debater and writer: a good man to have at your side in an argument, but also a gentle yet effective interrogator. He was also an extremely distinguished zoologist: past President of the Royal Zoological Society of London (2004–2014), Biological Secretary of the Royal Society (1998–2003), and provost of Kings College Cambridge (1988–2003), where he took a particularly keen interest in the gardens.