When I look back, as I occasionally do, on the pattern of my long life, I see it dominated by three great projects — the design and construction of the airship R101, the development of the jet propulsion gas turbine, and Cranfield University. These are, so to speak, the high hills in a plain of diversified scenery.

Of these great projects, I have included essays on R101 and on Cranfield, but I have confined my reference to the jet propulsion story to my opinion, long ago first expressed, of a great man, Frank Whittle. I have not expressed myself at any length on the controversies which mar the Whittle story and those who are interested — and who is not? — should read Whittle’s own book Jet and Mr Folley’s biography. Of the two men who I believe had the greatest influence on my career, Sir Henry Tizard and Sir Harry Jephcott, I will have something to say later on.