Personal reminiscences can enrich our knowledge and understanding of the leading figures of the day. The following extract is from Journey into Music by the Slow Train by Christopher Le Fleming, and describes Sydney Nicholson.

SHN took life fairly easily whenever he could: choir practices of a new and complex motet or anthem consisted of one, perhaps two run-throughs. After which we would be told ‘Yes, all right, boys, do the best you can with it when we come to the Service.’ When some of us were taken on a visit to give a demonstration away from the College, we would return in the evening by train. SHN, always generous, would give us dinner in the restaurant car. There was a charming ritual in the matter of drink: when a waiter emerged, proffering sherry by way of prelude - ‘Sherry, gentlemen?’ ‘No thank you, Waiter.’ As soon as this human St. Bernard had passed on to the next table, our host would scratch his head, a sure sign that an idea was about to be launched. Then he would say ‘Well you know, it’s been a busy day, a very busy day indeed; I think perhaps for once, just for once - Hi Waiter, we’ll all take sherry please.’ A similar performance would be given over a drink with our food, sometimes even for brandy with coffee! It is pleasant to recall many informal discussions when the great man, swinging one of his short but purposeful legs over the arm of a chair, digging the stem of his pipe into his grizzled hair, would show himself over and over again to be a rare conversationalist and beguiling raconteur.

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