10 Years - long time. But with the exception of a few foreign exchange students, most of us have histories in Durham, Lee or Madbury that extend considerably further back. 14 years since you may have passed from the big building at the top of the hill. 17 years since games like 2-square dominated our playtime. Indeed some of us go back a long way.

And now, many of us having found our way, we think well of the few or many older folk that said something that stuck - something that we got milage out of. I think most of us can agree we've mellowed in the years. So imagine what it took to get through to us back in the day. It had to be damn near adversarial. Consider whether you've got the courage to say to a 16-year old, "you've got talent, but your one track mind is on the wrong heading" or perhaps a politer variant of that.

Back in the years before yearbooks, before the differences between boys and girls were so obvious, before any gym teacher might say, "they're psycho today - let's defense 'em with a game of bombardment", it seemed simpler. Maybe it was the size difference. But oddly, this was the environment that sparked the competitive grit that sits in the back of our minds now. Every week it seemed that Mr. Emerson, Mr. E., would have us engaged in civil but fierce competitions both amongst ourselves and with him - open challenge. The confidence these early successes inspired lasted many of us a very long time.

So while you think well of the last few teachers that pushed you in the right direction, also think well of that one way back that got the ball rolling and gave you the confidence to run. Accordingly - thank you, and introducing, Mister Jon Emerson.