With his chiselled jaw, rakish moustache and clipped speech Graham Hill fitted the image of a racing driver long before the Principality of Monaco surrendered its famed Grand Prix to him as if it was his divine right.
Where rivals such as Jimmy Clark, Jack Brabham and John Surtees were never blessed to be welcomed by Prince Rainier and his bride Grace Kelly after striving valiantly in the arena of the local streets for 100 hard laps in the 1960s, Graham became a familiar figure to them. And a good friend whose company they enjoyed every bit as much as he valued theirs.