Programmer and internet firebrand Christopher Lightfoot died aged 28 in February, and his life and achievements were celebrated by some of his friends on Radio Four’s  Last Word programme yesterday. You can listen to the broadcast at the site or the repeat which goes out tomorrow night at 20.30 GTM:

"Chris Lightfoot saw the internet as a powerful tool for encouraging greater participation in democracy and civic society. For the charity ‘mySociety’ he developed websites which enabled voters to gain more direct access to their MPs, including ‘writetothem’, ‘hearfromyourmp’ and ‘pledge bank’. He also helped to develop the 10 Downing Street e-petition site which recently attracted more than a million people to protest against road pricing."

The Times also published an obituary. Its a loss we can’t really afford.