h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm surprised that he struggled with being bilingual - unless his father started speaking French to his children when they were older, which seems a shame. But since Dirac subsequently did learn German and Russian those early French lessons may have paid off.

I suspect the struggle was more to do with the food than the language in those early years - I recall his sister was quoted in the Farmelo biography as saying that Dirac wasn't as bad at French as his anecdote suggested...

one of those over achievers like my classmates. The ones I knew at school were all good at maths, languages and music. Did he play and instrument?

Yes, it is interesting how maths, languages and music have similarities as they all contain patterns and logic. Maths was my favourite at school, but I did quite enjoy languages. I have always been very average in music, but still enjoy playing the electric keyboard - my keyboard tutor entered me in a few competitions in my youth, but when I was 15 I had been playing for 5 years, and my competitors had been playing for 10 years, so of course I wasn't as proficient...

I found a great quote that answers your question!

'when someone asked Dirac if he played a musical instrument, he replied, "I do not know; I have never tried."'

That's a great quote!