Gentle, generous, thoughtful — Deirdre Purcell's life was a lesson in friendship

'The phenomenally successful woman who had so many careers arguably put more effort into quietly helping other professionals than will ever be known,' writes Terry Prone

Author and broadcaster Deirdre Purcell who died this week at the age of 77.

She was the one shining contradiction to the rules about actors and TV presenters and writers. The rules dictating that you can’t make it, in any of those areas, without being a driven, hard, self-absorbed diva. 

Deirdre Purcell made it in each of those areas while remaining gentle, generous, thoughtful and an active friend.