Gopsill: 'Après moi, it's Victor Noir online'

Tim Gopsill, the retiring editor of The Journalist, is to carry on his Victor Noir column from the magazine as a blog. The column has run in The Journalist for 20 years.

Victor Noir was a French 19th century journalist. According to a BBC report in November 2004, the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris has fenced off Noir's famous tomb (see picture) to prevent lewd acts being performed on his statue.
The BBC reported: "The effigy of 19th Century journalist known as Victor Noir has long been popular with women visitors. This is partly due to his reputation as a romantic figure, and partly because of the effigy's design. Officials concerned about damage to the icon's groin area have erected a fence around the grave, and a sign prohibiting indecent rubbing."