Dear Herbie,
As you know, we have always read Euromoney backwards and the arrival of last month's edition reminded us how remiss we had been not writing to you to bid you farewell to the City.
How well we remember those early days when we helped you to meet the Herculean characters of the discount market in El Vino's and how much we admired the speed with which you took into account the day's liquidity shortage in your consumption of gin and tonics before lunch.
We admired your relentless enthusiasm for jumping onto every bandwagon as it slowed to a pace that would accommodate your ample frame.
Your return to Boot Hill although a well guarded secret until recently must have been many months in the planning. With numerous Japanese banks shutting up shop in London, Boot Hill was again ahead of the pack.
We were all very sorry not to come to your winding up party which must have been a very sad occasion for you.
But as your folks say back at home: "I never rode gun on a hearse before."