Captain Professor Comes to Visit

This evening Professor Sir Michael Howard, the man responsible for establishing the department of war studies at King's College London, returned to give a lecture to his creation for the first time since leaving it to go to Oxford all those many years ago. The main reason for his lecture is that one of his books (described as a 'seminal piece of work' by the head of department at our induction) 'War and the Liberal Conscience' has just been republished but one of my lecturers (Prof. James Gow) admitted that as soon as he realised that Sir Michael had never been back to lecture at the department since his departure he was determined to have him here and the new edition of this book was merely a timely excuse. 

Sir Michael admitted, and it was quite clearly genuine, that he was amazed and deeply humbled by how the department had grown and developed since his time at King's. 

The entire department was out in force for the event- quite possibly the first and last time we will ever see them wearing suits- and I felt like a little girl at Disneyland running after all her favourite characters as I saw these people I knew of only from their work, all chatting away. Of course I knew they worked in the department and I suppose it was only a matter of time before I bumped into one of them: walking along the sixth floor you see their names written on their office doors, their names are in the prospectus and the student handbook, I will even be taught by one of them this year but how exciting to see them all together, subtly pointing and giggling (I think approvingly) at the row of first year BA students who had run to the front of the hall as soon as the door opened so they could get seats right in the first row, up close to the legend whose work we've all read and whose merits are frequently extolled to us, whose legacy, in a strange way, I suppose we are! The eminent, distinguished experts across from the new, green beginners. The decorated brass across from the brand new recruits. 

And the little man, well into his 80s (somebody told us somewhat morbidly to make the most of this experience since we may well never hear him speak again), walking with the help of  a walking stick but not without some difficulty to the podium spoke for an enthralling half an hour before taking questions in a large, powerful voice, his razor sharp mind still clearly very much intact. The room was completely silent as the many, many people (extra chairs had to be set up at the back and a few young students told to go sit on the floor at the side) soaked up every piercing, insightful work the old professor had to offer. 

A really wonderful evening. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Amazon.co.uk to find a book entitled 'Captain Professor' and rather suggest that you do the same....