My friend Benedict Cruft, who has died aged 73, was a violinist who performed around the world, including with the London Symphony Orchestra, and latterly was the dean of music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He lived and breathed music throughout his life.
We had known each other since our student days at the Royal College of Music, where Ben won the top prize for violinists at the age of 19. Born in London, he was the son of Kiki (nee McCormick) and John Cruft, a respected oboist who went on to be director of music and drama at the Arts Council.
