Friends and Influences
There are many I have met and who have helped me, and given me happiness.
I have had to omit many names – my numerous friends at church, the many lovely people in Chobham, where I live, and all my Talossan friends too. I know that I am also going to forget some names – my apologies to those I have accidentally left out: the errors and omissions are all my own.
But at the very least I have to thank for (variously) their ideas, their support, their teaching, their examples, their criticisms (some slight, some deep), their friendship and their love [names in alphabetic order by surname]:
Shaheen Aziz Ahmed [who, many years ago, tried to teach me scholarship, art-appreciation, and Urdu];
“Russell”: J. W. R. Anderson [Rux0r];
Professor Archbold (UCL) [the first person ever to call me “Mr. Kelly”, and a masterly teacher of algebra];
Marcella Arnow [charming friend and intellectually focused work-mate: the most English American you can imagine];
Peter Bacon [charming Christian wit with, I believe, a frog named after him];
Grace Barr;
James Barr [perfect gentleman, and devout Christian];
Mr. L. Berkeley [inspired teacher of history, lovingly known to generations of pupils as Buffalo Bill];
Allan Bouchard;
Judith Bouchard;
Pamela Bourne;
David Brooks [whose twenty-first birthday party was a turning point in my life];
Dr. Rudranath Capildeo [politician, mathematician, polymath, who in just a few words encouraged me to look upwards, and be my real self];
Martyn Catlow [who quietly taught me the true meaning of the word courage];
Jenny Clayton;
Peter Clayton;
Roger Clayton;
Gerald Cole [who, by example, taught me to love language];
Jean Coward;
John Coward;
Mabel Cowley;
Ian R. Dale;
Irene Dale;
Carol Duval [ah, Carol – can we ever understand all the poems in the world?];
Rick Duval;
Alan Earnshaw [yes, it’s kinetic energy – not momentum – sigh];
Allan Freeman;
James Geard;
Barry Griffin [master of both logic and meditation];
Walter Goshawke [Accipiter Gentilis];
Sheila Grubb/Motivala;
Elizabeth Gurd;
Steve Gurd;
Cathie Hartigan [glad2b];
Richard Heathfield [C_Dreamer: who has an unfairly large share of intellect and wit – well, I think it’s unfair – is unequalled in the clarity of his writing, charming and genuine in his politeness, a fine Christian exemplar – and incredibly hairy];
Emma Hibling [who thinks faster and better than any computer ever invented – and plays Go with vicious skill];
Paul Humphreys [logic cuts fine, Paul, and you taught me that even deep differences in opinion need not damage friendship];
Allan Jupp;
Dmitriy V. Kokiyelov [whose jokes I dare not use];
John Latham [John, I wish I had your skills in study and business organization, and your firm faith];
Rachel Latham;
Veronica Lawson [who finally convinced me that language translation is difficult, and we often ignore its complexities];
Paul Lewis [who thinks differently];
Des Maisey [who was a hard taskmaster in Systems Programming – thank you, Des];
Raphael Mankin [colleague and college friend who taught me more about computing (and Hebrew and Judo and horse-riding and recorder-playing and… insert long list here) than I thought it was possible for me to know];
Ann Marsden;
David Marsden;
Dr. Margaret Masterman;
Rev. Caryl Micklem [Reverend and musician, who always made an inspired choice of musical notes (even though organists don’t like playing tunes in the key of D-flat), and the perfect choice of contemplative words];
Romilly Micklem;
Timothy Morgan;
Nick Oborski;
Sandra Oborski;
Alan Pool;
Rowena Poppe;
Peter Priechenfried;
George Purvis;
Alan Rabjohn;
Rajan Harishankar;
Sanjeev Richarya;
Paul Schooling [dear friend and unforgiving logician, who struggled to teach me discipline of thought – poor pupil that I am!];
Jane Skinner;
Noel Skinner;
Coco Smith;
Phil Smith;
Tony Spooner [R. E. Noopsca];
Edmund Stephen-Smith [ESS];
Tom Stockwell [brilliant teacher of physics and scientific method: alas, I have forgotten much of both];
Roy Talbot;
Poh-Teen Tang;
Tim Upton;
Vince West;
David Wigg;
Tom Wilson [wonderful teacher of mathematics, musician, and gentleman];
Andy G. M. Wood [AGMW] (not “Woods” – there’s only one of him).
And [non-alphabetically] my dear family: our fantastic children Benjamin and Miranda, with Jamie and Kevin – and grandsons Sonny and Fionn; and my wonderful, wonderful parents, Percy and Vera, whom I can never thank enough..
And above all of these my patient, beautiful, charming, irreplaceable wife Gay. How do you put up with me, Gizzie? I am thrilled that you do.