WE HAD a last minute surprise visit from Jarvis Cocker at last night’s Alan Watts centenary event, organised by novelist and Watts fan Tim Lott. Other guests at the event included Jules Evans, Viv Albertine, Lucy Cooke and royal florist Shane Connolly.

Jarvis told the audience that he first heard Watts speak while on a tour bus. “Someone played an audio recording of Watts and it suddenly felt OK to be nervous.” Jarvis added that it was Watts’ leniency and lack of dogmatism that appealed. “The last few years,” said Jarvis, “what with Richard Dawkins and the rest, it’s been like you can’t have a spiritual dimension in your life. Alan Watts showed me that you can.”

Tim discussed the life and legacy of the legendary Buddhist thinker with John Lloyd of QI fame, and author and Guardian columnist Oliver Burkemann.

Here are a few pics from the evening, taken by DIRK LINDNER.