Lord Kings Norton’s contribution to Cranfield University was immense. He was quite literally the father of the university, having personally conceived the idea of creating what became the university. His involvement began in early 1943 when, as vice president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he began to consider how best to create an environment in which to educate the practical young men and women who would be needed to take the aeronautical industry forward in the post-war years. Being barely a year old at this time, I personally find it hard to comprehend the degree of optimism reflected in even considering such issues, for although the Battle of Britain had been won, the Battle of the Atlantic was far from won and D-Day was still a year and a half away. But optimism, realistic achievable optimism, was a hallmark of Lord Kings Norton.