Max has said it all - as was to be hoped and expected. And said it far better than I could have managed.
So I will just say -
"Happy Birthday" to all of us;
"Congratulations" to Anu for his inspiration and his hard work in giving it birth;
"Thank You" to all of you out there who have patiently put up with my waffle and occasional rants and offered me friendship and support such as I have never known before.
I would like to offer you, as a birthday present, a small part of my favourite poem, which describes this board quite well:
" Once more within the Potter's house alone
I stood, surrounded by the Shapes of Clay.
Shapes of all Sorts and Sizes, great and small,
That stood along the floor and by the wall;
And some loquacious vessels were; and some
Listen'd perhaps, but never talked at all."
Edward Fitzgerald: Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Hilary Walklett
Lancaster University
09:10 GMT
