Ninetieth Birthday Unveiling

Yesterday was the 90th birthday of one of my colleagues, Paul (someone who was ultimately responsible for my election to a college Fellowship and university post some 48 years ago: so someone whose judgement I regard as sound!).

Paul is shown here waiting for the unveiling of a portrait, specially commissioned for the occasion. The young lady doing the unveiling is one of the senior elected officers of our Graduate Common Room that Paul was instrumental in setting up and getting up and running. Having this portrait made was an inspired idea, and I believe that Paul greatly appreciated the gesture.

Paul was for many years our senior Chemistry Tutor (I succeeded him), and our celebrations started off with a lecture on chemists of our college by Allan Chapman, often seen on TV in programmes about the history of science. Allan is seen here in full flow: a typical pose! Allan spoke eloquently and most interestingly, without hesitation or notes, for his exact alloted time span, after which we made our way to the garden where the unveiling was to take place and we started on the champagne. Here are Paul and Allan together after the lecture. We were amazingly fortunate with the weather: it was warm and sunny, with a cloudless blue sky. It was a perfect spring day. Here are some of us in the garden.

This was an excellent start to the festivities. After the champagne, we made our way to a fine lunch. This is the menu. And here is Paul at table, with his ox cheek before him! I had the unusual experience of being seated next to a real Princess, not something that happens at most lunches I eat...

After the meal followed speeches of course. Here is our Dean, introducing Paul, and I spoke in reply. Paul graciously responded. Then we made our way outside again for coffee and mints and lots of conversation with old friends and pupils, some of whom had travelled thousands of miles in order to participate in this celebratory occasion.

Here you might like to look at a more complete set of the photographs that I took this day.

Here is another set of much more professional photographs taken by our Chaplain.

I said in conclusion, and I meant it:

"You will see that we are commemorating the 90th anniversary of a life lived fully, usefully and productively. We congratulate Paul on reaching this significant milestone, and wish him and Rosemary well, with much happiness, over whatever of the next 90 years are to come!"