Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Ian Fleming at the early age of 56 after suffering a heart attack brought about by a lifetime of heavy smoking and drinking.

Without Fleming our lives would be far poorer, as without him Bond would never have been born. Whether you are a fan of the books, or just love the film series that the books brought about, I invite you at some point today to lift your glass and drink a toast to the memory of Ian Fleming.