I always loved the foreign element in the College with Arbós and Rivarde, and what fun we used to have at ensemble classes where we would read Schubert and Brahms Quartets by sight. I shall never forget the laughter caused by my left hand hopping about like a grasshopper on the cello strings but usually landing on the right note, nor the goodness of Ivor James, later cello professor at the RCM.