FROM CAPE TOWN TO THE DALES - FROM BILTONG TO STAMPS I AM RATHER A LATE COMER TO KNOWING FRANZ AND MARIE, ONLY HAVING BEING IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR 20YEARS. WHEN I CAME FOR MY INTERVIEW FRANZ WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA ON HOLIDAY SO I DID NOT MEET HIM UNTIL HIS RETURN. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH AFRICA IN THE 1960/1970's AND SO I HAD AN INSTANT RAPPORT WITH FRANZ. ON RETURN VISITS TO THE CAPE, BILTONG (DRIED MEAT) WAS ALWAYS TOP OF THE LIST OF THINGS TO BRING BACK FOR FRANZ. ANOTHER INTEREST I SHARED WITH FRANZ WAS STAMPS. I HAD ALWAYS COLLECTED STAMPS FOR CHARITIES AND WORKING AT UCL WAS A GREAT SOURCE FOR STAMPS ON THE MAIL AND PACKAGES, SO FRANZ WAS SOON ON THE LIST FOR SOUTH AFRICAN STAMPS. WHILST ATTENDING FRANZ'S FUNERAL I MET UP WITH HIS STAMP CLUB FRIENDS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEND STAMPS UP TO CARLISLE FOR THEIR USE, AS THEY ARE INVOLVED WITH GIVING THEM TO SCHOOLCHILDREN. ON FRANZ'S RETIREMENT HE MOVED TO LIVE IN THE DALES, ANOTHER AREA I KNEW WELL AS I COME FROM THE NORTH EAST OF THE COUNTRY. OF COURSE AN OPEN INVITATION WAS ISSUED TO VISIT WHENEVER "UP NORTH". I MANAGED TO PAY MARIE & FRANZ A FEW VISITS AND WAS ALWAYS MADE MOST WELCOME ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND. FRANZ WAS ALWAYS MOST GENEROUS OF HIS TIME AND THOUGHT FOR OTHERS. ONE YEAR UNABLE TO ATTEND THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW HE DID NOT WANT THE TICKETS TO GO TO WASTE, SO THE LATE AUDREY BROWNING AND MYSELF WHERE DISPATCHED TO THE SHOW WHICH WE WAS A MOST ENJOYABLE DAY. THANKS, MARIE, FOR LETTING US BE A PART OF YOURS AND FRANZ'S LIVES. CATHERINE JONES PURCHASING OFFICER PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY DEPT.