HAPPY MEMORIES

READING Ross Nye’s obituary (news, 17 September) brought back vivid memories of his humanity and his imaginative teachings back in the 1970s.

His founding of the Hyde

Park Riding Club brought joy and riding to many living in London in those days, and he ran a horse show in Kensington Gardens for some years.

His faith in my riding abilities was misplaced – having recently given birth to my son, I fell off twice in one morning while riding on Rotten Row.

Never get too confident.

Ross’s and his wife Ruth’s kindness was legendary, giving confidence to so many including my young stepson. I marvelled too at the superb horse and pony management in such restricted surroundings. When we visited their Surrey farm, we had the privilege of meeting

John Lill, the renowned British pianist who had recently won the Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition.

Ruth (Farren-Price) is herself a noted pianist, and the reason why the Nyes originally came from Australia to live in London. She survives Ross, having taught the piano latterly at the Royal College of Music. The sound of her playing would waft from the upstairs of Bathurst Mews. Horses and music, the perfect combination.

Marian Waters Pebworth, Warks