W.M.(Bertie) Smyllie was editor of The Irish Times from 1934 until his death in 1954 and remains one of the legendary figures in Irish journalism. Short-sighted, massively overweight, given to wearing a poncho and sombrero, and cycling to work with his typewriter slung over the bars of his bike and a half bottle of Scotch sticking out of his pocket, here was one of the sights of Dublin. He was also an editor of genius.