My first proper encounter with Stuart came 2-3 days after our arrival at Christ Church in October 1977. Leaving Hall after dinner, I fell into company with Stuart who pronounced that not only was the food just served unfit for human consumption, but would not again be consumed by him. Stuart was as good as his word, never ate another ordinary meal in College, and subsequently organized his eating around supplies of fillet steak kept unusually in those days in a personal fridge in his room, and developed what was to be a long-standing relationship with a small, but excellent French bistrot within convenient walking distance of the House. On the way back for a drink in his room that evening, I recognized the piece that Stuart was humming to himself - one of his favourite Beethoven compositions, the cavatina from the opus 130 string quartet. The shared enthusiasm for Beethoven - and Handel - kicked off the first of many, many, long conversations wih Stuart, covering every conceivable topic - all of which Stuart, amazingly, would have views about, which he would assert and defend with facility and conviction - and a great deal of friendly teasing of his opponents.
I saw less of him after he graduated and established himself in the States, but it was one of those rare and remarkable friendships where it didn't matter how many years had elapsed since the previous meeting, it was always the case that we picked up the threads of the last conversation as if it had been the day before. Largely because of Stuart's remarkably retentive memory, and his genuine and warm interest in the personalities and thinking, preferences and foibles of his friends, he had that great ability to rekindle a friendship within moments of re-encounter.
I had assumed that our friendship would continue for many more years, and will feel Stuart's loss deeply. RIP, old and dear friend.
