Thinking of David brings back fond memories of Cambridge. I will always remember our weekly seminars at CSAS, which David would diligently attend. Even when at times he seemed to be paying less attention, as soon as the presentation ended, he would always have a razor-sharp question to ask, which would then trigger a whole new set of questions, for both presenters and attendees. He did this without an ounce of condescension, with a visible appetite for intellectual discussion. After the seminar would end, he would always join the rest of the group to continue the conversation over a glass of wine. He was the most approachable man, happy to exchange ideas with students as well as established scholars . As a student, I truly admired David’s bonhomie, his generosity in exchanging ideas, and his great sense of humour. He was certainly a towering scholar, but it was easy to imagine him being a great dad and a fantastic grandfather too. At times when one felt unsure about pursuing an academic career, it was inspiring and reassuring to see that someone like him, who had achieved so much in his field, had retained an obvious love for life in all its dimensions. David will continue to inspire many of us, in research and in life.