I will always remember Arnold for his very genuine kindness and patience during my years at Bradford as an undergraduate (1976-80). I recall well that he made geophysics seem fresh and exciting – even the maths! He was always willing to listen to our moans about coursework as well, and somehow forever managed to smooth things out. Arnold’s enthusiasm for research encouraged me to journey into the world of remote sensing and to a semi academic career, and for all this I owe him my deepest gratitude.