Several years ago, as part of a visit to the USA, Chris came to visit us in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was particularly interested in the opportunity to take tours of the nearby historic homes of two of America's earliest presidents: Thomas Jefferson the third president, and James Monroe the fifth president. The first tour, at Monticello, Jefferson’s home was a great success, and Chris was delighted to view the extensive collection of books and scientific artifacts in the house designed and built by Jefferson. However during the second guided tour, at the house and gardens of Ashlawn Highlands, the home of James Monroe, Chris somehow became separated in the gardens from the main tour party. He later told us that he had felt the need to step back to adjust his medication. It was also a very warm and sunny day, with many bees in the air pollinating the numerous flowers and shrubs. At some point a staff gardener at Ashlawn noticed Chris, all by himself, gesticulating rather erratically in what the gardener interpreted as a response to several bee stings. The gardener promptly phoned the local Charlottesville emergency ambulance rescue squad to come to the aid of this visitor. The rescue squad, a very efficient local volunteer service, prides itself on delivering any distressed person with medical needs in the Charlottesville area to the University of Virginal hospital emergency room in eight minutes flat. Fortunately Chris had, in fact, not been stung by the bees, and by the time he was installed in the ambulance, was feeling quite calm, as the ambulance, with flashing red and orange lights and very loud sirens raced through the town to the ER. Chris later told us that he felt quite excited by the trip, watching all the traffic make way on the roads for this important visitor. The arrival and experience at the very busy emergency room of a large teaching hospital was subsequently described to us by Chris in a way that only persons who have known and loved Chris for many years will understand. Chris was always a great story teller, and his stories a delight for his listeners. In the busy ER Chris was quickly screened by a medical person, and asked to supply appropriate information to assess the extent and treatment for his reported bee stings. He gave his name and insisted that he did not have any bee stings and had never claimed to have any. He was then asked the address where he was staying. He replied he did not know. He was visiting from England and now staying with his brother, who had met him at the airport just two days earlier. At this point Chris was referred to a more senior medical person, who again asked for his name, which he gave. The next question asked was what was his birthdate? Now Chris smiled and replied as an American Studies expert, “Aha that is an easy question. My birthdate is the same day as Ted Kennedy’s”. Which of course only confounded the senior medical person. (Indeed it is the same day, just 1943 vs 1932). Chris related that he then ended the discussion by announcing that actually he believed his brother Jim worked in the University Hospital Radiology department with an office just down the corridor from the ER and he would be happy to be escorted there. END OF STORY. To Hazel from Jim and Mary-Susan with Love and Peace. We will miss you Christopher Ernest.