Beloved fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett, who died earlier this week aged 66, was a guest in Ely two and a half years ago ... and he made quite an impression.

An audience of 1,000 packed Ely Cathedral to hear the author, who wrote more than 70 books during his stellar 44 year career, discuss his craft.

His books were translated into 37 languages and sold 70 million copies.

In 2007, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but this did not stop him from producing bestsellers.

Elle Seymour, an Ely based writer and blogger, writing after Terry’s visit to Ely Cathedral, said: “I had the pleasure of seeing Sir Terry Pratchett at his latest book promotion in Ely Cathedral.

“I was among an audience of 1,000 and there is no doubt that he is a much admired legend.

“I wonder how it must feel for him to face so many strangers out of his comfort zone, which can easily trigger a fear reaction for many sufferers of this terrible dementia.

“The whole evening was led by Terry’s very able Man Friday, Rob Wilkins, who read extracts of Terry’s work to the enthralled crowd and gently invited Terry to respond, which he did magnificently.

“I have no idea how much of a struggle that was for him, if they worked to a standard script to aid his failing memory.

“And Terry willingly posed for photos with 100 fans as he was unable to write his autograph in their copy of his latest book, Dodger, but I know this is something special which they will treasure for ever.

“Such is his enormous appeal that the man sitting next to me had travelled from London and had to leave early to return to his home in Surrey – just to hear Terry speak for an hour.”