When I arrived in 1979, Ralph was in his mid-seventies. Colonel Barr did the turning & finishing - Ralph did everything else.
They often spoke amongst themselves - the two of them chuckling from time to time over one thing or another.
Early on, I thought perhaps it was me at the butt end of their amusement, but as the weeks rolled into months and years, I realized it was their long history together that was flushing out the chatter.
Basil & Ralph in Conference