RIP indeed. However I don't think he was the first James Bond. In 1995 or 96 I stood behind a white-haired Englishman at an immigration desk in Beirut airport. There was a delay for some minutes while the official called over his boss and then they asked "your name is Bond, James Bond? Mr Bond was very patient and diplomatic (I suspect this wasn't the first time) even when his occupation turned out to be something military, like colonel. Eventually he was allowed entry. I always think of him as the first, the real James Bond.