Akass was born in
Bedford, England, and educated at
Bedford Modern School between 1944 and 1949. After National Service with the RAF, Akass joined the London office of the
Glasgow Herald as a teaboy. He soon moved to the London offices of the
Daily Herald where he worked alongside
Dennis Potter and was given a regular column at the age of 24. Akass stayed with
The Sun, as the
Daily Herald became, and continued with the paper when it was acquired by
Rupert Murdoch in 1969 and underwent its transformation into a tabloid. Akass was named British columnist of the year in 1976. Akass died from cancer in London on 4 June 1990, aged 56, and was survived by his wife, Peggy, and four children. His memorial service was held at
St Bride's Church,
Fleet Street, where Canon John Oates officiated. Readings were given by his son, Mark Akass, and
Nicholas Lloyd.
Anne Robinson's then husband, John Penrose, read an address as did
George Gale remarking that "John is up there drinking gin with the angels". An obituary by
Keith Waterhouse in
The Guardian described him as a "shambling Ustinov-shaped figure in a crumpled white suit" who "forever looked either as if he was on his way to a good nap after a good lunch or as if he had just risen from a good nap in time for the cocktail hour and a good supper." ==References==