蜜芽传媒

Much has been said about Archbishop Desmond Tutu's oratory and bravery as he challenged apartheid - but he's also been remembered for his cheeky smile and impish humour.

Mary Robinson, the former Irish president, worked closely with him when they were both members of 'The Elders' - a group of former leaders who lobby on human rights and humanitarian issues. She remembers him pretending to tell off dignitaries like former US president Jimmy Carter for being late for meetings - and then bursting out laughing. But she says she learnt a powerful lesson from him about how humour can be used in order to tackle the most weighty of concerns - a lesson she wished she'd learnt earlier in her career when she "tended to be preachy and a bit serious":

"Arch would quite often almost make himself a bit ridiculous, make people laugh, make fun of things. And when people were laughing, then he would come in with his message.... He had this infectious, wonderful giving of himself which was really all about love."

(Photo: Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu at Nelson Mandela's memorial service. Credit: Getty Images)

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