Dame Marie Bashir served many roles over her long career and life with honour and dignity that earned respect from many. She – and her infectious smile – will be sorely missed.

I remember vividly – as Dame Marie Bashir and I were discussing the music of Mozart and Haydn – how excited she was when she told me with much (well-deserved) pride on her smile, "I used to play with the Doctors Orchestra!"

My lasting impression of Dame Marie Bashir is that she was genuinely passionate and knowledgeable about classical music and the arts – Something I do not take for granted about people in her position these days.