"Amazing to think he didn't come to climbing until later in life and not as a child given how good he is."
The advantage he had was learning from masters. Talk to Ron and he'll occasionally and in-passing mention two things. Which routes he did in EBs (usually as you're walking under them), and who he's climbed them with. He learned some seriously good technique from from seriously good climbers. That's what happens when you live 10 minutes from The Cookie.
And how many of you younger Masters of Mud even know what EBs are? (I know you do Rob, but there's probably some other, younger climbers here who don't).