Then to Pete and Barbara [see photo], a couple who used to be neighbours when I was young. My main memory of Pete was as the chess maestro who progressed me from "knowing the rules" to "dabbling with tactics and strategies". He happily beat me every game we played, but was then gracious enough to go back through the moves to show me where I'd gone wrong. I learned a lot. I also recall being asked to play for his Metropolitan Police Chess team once, when they were suddenly a player short. Although the team lost overall, I drew my game, so felt I hadn't let the side down (despite being a teenager playing with, and against, adults). Pete and Barbara, as ever, showed a real in-depth interest in China and my life there, as well as serving up coffee and caramel slices! What a nice couple.