Beloved Brother

Dear Brother, on the occasion of your half century, we salute you!


We know your early life was marred by loss and adversity: when only 4, you were forced to leave your favourite shield behind in the USA, when our family moved back to the UK after two years abroad. Was it then you who, perhaps aged 10, lost your best trilobite haul on a stony beach in southern England? No wonder you moved back to the USA as soon as possible and devoted your life to blasting stones in as many different ways as you could think of.


But what a life! Packed with adventure, travel, scholarship, beautiful women - and much hirsutism. One minute you were engineering nuclear fission (or something) near Oxford, the next hotwiring computers in Norway, before drilling for oil in Trinidad, and taking on the
challenges of Alaska, Tibet, Africa or the open seas. Single handed expeditions to remote parts were always your forte, whether in Norway, the Scottish Hebrides or Alaska, although your
seniority now demands that you supervise and instruct vast armies of minions on your travels.



Somehow you also found the time to acquire degrees in two continents, a beautiful wife, daughter and mother in law, and a lot of hair. (This last project pursued enthusiastically even as
a lad when - always the leader and organiser - you headed the school naval cadet corps. Had haircuts not been invented in the 70's?)


Simon, your family misses you - have a wonderful birthday!


Much love from Frances and Paul