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Re: Dick Sillitto's 80th birthday      Wed, 26 Feb 2003 18:54:58 -0000     Karen Ness     sillitto

Nice to hear from you and thanks for including me in your project to compile a book of reminiscences to commemorate your Dad's 80th birthday. I am sure it will be a unique document which will richly catalogue Dick's very significant contribution to optics education, spoken through the words of the very many people whom he has inspired with his teaching.

That said, I am at a bit of a loss as to what to contribute myself. The simple truth is that I would not have chosen optics and lasers as my specialisation in physics if it has not been for Dick. I can track it back to the 2nd year optics course which he taught - that ignited my interest and passion for the subject, which has underpinned all of my subsequent career, both through postgraduate study at Imperial and employment. I would not be doing what I do now - and running the Institute of Photonics is a very challenging and satisfying job as well as being lots of fun - if it hadn't been for Dick!

Please pass on to Dick my very best wishes for his birthday, as well as best wishes to Winifred and all your family.

Regards
Karen (Ness - BSc Physics Edin 1980)

________ Dr Karen M Ness, Chief Executive Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde Wolfson Centre, 106 Rottenrow GLASGOW G4 0NW, Scotland, UK