It was so exciting, my cousin, a regular at the Royal Festival Hall, agreed to take me along.  I had begged for the opportunity to attend a concert, which included a favourite, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Overture, "The Wasps".  A sudden silence, as an announcement informed, that the composer was in the box above our heads.  This was the occasion of his 80th birthday, I believe.  The great man accepted graciously the ovation of the audience.  The applause was thunderous.  It made my first visit a memorable one.