THE tributes which poured in yesterday for Richard Attenborough reflect much more than his achievements as an Oscar-winning actor and director. Lord Attenborough was much more than that.

For most, it would have been enough to leave a legacy which included such epic films as Ghandi, Cry Freedom, and A Bridge Too Far.

But Lord Attenborough, who died on Sunday at the age of 90, will rightly be remembered as one of the greatest champions of British cinema.

Yes, he made some “turkeys” in his time – particularly in the 1950s when the British film industry was in a rut – but he recovered to create some classics.

He became the figurehead of the British film industry. Among his many campaign victories was his work in persuading the then Prime Minister John Major to allow National Lottery funds to be used to make films. Oscar-winners such as The King’s Speech have Lord Attenborough to thank for that initial lobbying in the 1990s.

A glance at Lord Attenborough’s entry in Who’s Who underlines the breadth of his influence. He was a director, trustee, fellow, chairman or president of more than 30 organisations, including the British Film Institute, the Tate Gallery and the Muscular Dystrophy Group.

The wide-ranging tributes – from politicians, fellow actors, and charity campaigners – have a common theme: that Lord Attenborough was someone who made good things happen across many aspects of British life. The millions of pounds he raised for charity cannot be underestimated.

Just as his brother David has become a national treasure for his incomparable work as a naturalist, Lord Attenborough will long be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the world.