Epsom (Surrey), UK:
"We shared the privilege of attending the same secondary school, Winchester College, located in the city which before London was England's capital. I had the good fortune to be placed for certain subjects in the same class as he, although I had arrived in the school three or four years later.
It was normal for boys to call each other by surname. First (Christian or whatever) name was used only among friends: So in the case of the Nawab of Pataudi, "Pataudi" was the correct way to address him; though for friends and his own senior class-year it was "Nawab" rendered (for the convenience of the English tongues) as "Noob".
One occasion the thirteen year old, who was me, had the brazen cheek to address the distinguished seventeen year-old as "Noob". An audible intake of breath was heard from those in the vicinity; and from the Nawab a ferocious: "What did you call me?" I beat a hasty retreat and offered a profuse apology. I was forgiven, of course, since he was that sort of person.
In the ensuing months we used to see each other - or more precisely I saw him - at the rackets courts. That was another game at which with his sense of timing and immaculate vision (it was before his accident at university deprived him of sight in one eye) he excelled greatly. One day he approached me and to my huge surprise and delight addressed me as "Andrew"; "now". he said, "you may call me Noob".
I had not seen him since school days but will never forget how everyone gravitated towards 'Lords' (as the school cricket ground was called) whenever he was at the crease, and drifted away if and when he was out, normally having scored with an ease and elegance, speed and power which none of his peers or opponents could match. May he rest in peace."
It was normal for boys to call each other by surname. First (Christian or whatever) name was used only among friends: So in the case of the Nawab of Pataudi, "Pataudi" was the correct way to address him; though for friends and his own senior class-year it was "Nawab" rendered (for the convenience of the English tongues) as "Noob".
One occasion the thirteen year old, who was me, had the brazen cheek to address the distinguished seventeen year-old as "Noob". An audible intake of breath was heard from those in the vicinity; and from the Nawab a ferocious: "What did you call me?" I beat a hasty retreat and offered a profuse apology. I was forgiven, of course, since he was that sort of person.
In the ensuing months we used to see each other - or more precisely I saw him - at the rackets courts. That was another game at which with his sense of timing and immaculate vision (it was before his accident at university deprived him of sight in one eye) he excelled greatly. One day he approached me and to my huge surprise and delight addressed me as "Andrew"; "now". he said, "you may call me Noob".
I had not seen him since school days but will never forget how everyone gravitated towards 'Lords' (as the school cricket ground was called) whenever he was at the crease, and drifted away if and when he was out, normally having scored with an ease and elegance, speed and power which none of his peers or opponents could match. May he rest in peace."
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