Geography classes over the years all seemed to start with the phrase "take out your maps of France". I learned to draw maps of most of the major places in the world by having two basic shapes, a curve and a V. Each shape had four possible variants, e.g. the V could point up, down, left or right and this seemed to exhaust the range of possibilities for all known ports. Mr Stevenson, Fanny, was going deaf, and as I follow him in that direction I have come to remember his problem very well. "What do they produce in Basle?" "Fancy cheese, Sir," the answer spoken in a low voice "That's right, boy, handkerchiefs". Hilarity all round, confusion and consternation and out it comes again, "take out your maps of France." And yet you know, I can still remember some of the old economic geography of assorted European and Commonwealth countries, and I can stil draw a map in eight different ways! I remember Physics and the slow, careful enunciation of Mr Hawthorne, Juddy, talking about 'copper-bottomed calorimeters', knowing that I would then be asked. "Crook, how would you like you have a copper bottom?' However, I don't think my Knowledge of the subject went much further!

When it was simply impossible to turn out for sport on Wednesday afternoons (and clearly rain was not a sufficient reason or there would have been no sport at all), we got the supply of National Geographic magazines to took through, an occurrence of far-reaching significance in my life. It gave rise to a consuming interest in the mammary glands of dusky maidens from exotic places, and also triggered a life-long interest in comparing human societies, variations in the human psyche and a commitment to hands-on experience adn research. Please note that the hands-on bit refers only to the second clause in the preceding sentence!

Let me hasten to a conclusion. I have been talking about memory and community. The PGS motto was Futuram Civitatem Inquirimus, usually rendered, *we seek a future state". On checking it out with my friendly neighbourhood Classics professor, I find that a more accurate and useful translation might be, 'We are searching for a future community', the key issue being to do with citizenship and social obligation rather than place. It really could be rendered, 'We are in the business of producing citizens'. It is a fine motto and says a lot about the vision which saw the need to combine real technical competence with all-round development and citizenship. We were given a privilege; a social investment, by others and in our diverse ways we make returns on that investment. A fundamental commitment to human equality and an absence of pomposity are also a central part of our common experience, and there is not a lot wrong with that either.

I remember PGS today not simply as an exercise in nostalgia but as a continuing source of identity, values and strength. I can take-pride in my background, in PGS and the traditions we share. I am confident that in this at least I cam speak for the many other members of our community around the world. It is a most memorable experience to be home for a time, however brief ,with other Prescotians. In particular I am delighted that my wife, Annabel, who hails from deepest Nova Scotia, has the opportunity of meeting many of you and understanding what she thought were personality aberrations are in fact nothing more remarkable than cultural traits well within a normal distribution curve!