The Stones at home

Sir Richard Stone with his wife, Lady Giovanna, 1984

The main room at Millington Road is long and narrow, with black walls. It looks out over a rose garden; by day, the black walls make it seem shallow, and project the room into the garden. By night there are pools of light, near the fire, by the Bösendorfer, and over the round dining table, which is covered with yellow leather. This was not only the family sitting and dining room, but was also a place of work. Indeed, for Dick, there never could be any separation between his work, his family, and his friends. Not everyone liked to live in such a way, and for those who preferred an eight hour day, the late night editing sessions for the Green Books were less than fully appreciated, however lively the atmosphere and good the wine. But for many more of us, Millington Road became a very special place. Dick and Giovanna kept a splendid dinner table. The round table could accommodate almost any number, and the more people the more were the opportunities for displaying the multicolored collection of glassware. Anyone interesting who came through Cambridge would be invited.

There was a constant stream of pilgrims from all over the world, from distinguished Nobel laureates to research students with barely a word of English. Giovanna always guided the conversation with her characteristic wit, grace, and (when necessary) outrageously provocative statements. Dick would preside, enjoying the food, the wine, the talk, his guests, and the sense of presiding over a worldwide community of scholars and friends. ... the model of affability, he would agree to the most preposterous statements. 'I suppose, when you come to think of it, you're right,' and just for a moment, you would be struck with the wisdom of your remark. Just very occasionally, and only when pressed, would come the counterpart, 'Well, if you ask me, it's all the most frightful rot!'

from: Angus Deaton (1993),'Stone, John Richard Nicholas 1913-1991', Proceedings of the British Academy, 82, 475-492.

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