from some experimental studies done with Brian BronteStewart, a South African fellow of Pickering’s. In these we showed that hypertension could accentuate the development and progression of atherosclerosis, something that is generally accepted nowadays, but which was far from clear at that time. It is tragic to recall that such a superb investigator and dear friend as Bronte should have died in his early thirties. Looking back over these years, it is fascinating to call to mind the meetings of the Renal Association that were held at CIBA House some half dozen times a year. Attendance at these meetings instantly dispelled the notion that the British are a polite and gentle race. Not only were the presenters of papers likely to be abused verbally, as “Joe” and I were by Clifford Wilson when we first put forward the concept of focal forms of glomerulonephritis, but physically as well, such as when Robert McCance of Cambridge quite literally threw me off the platform for exceeding my time. American meetings in Fig. 1. Robert H. Heptinstall. comparison are more like gatherings of the church vestry! Since coming to the United States permanently in 1960 I am honored to be the co-recipient of the Jean HamI have been treated with the utmost kindness, and have burger award. been helped considerably by many wonderful friends, My good friend of 36 years, Dr. Gary Hill, has with unfortunately too numerous to mention individually. My considerable poetic license given the outlines of my adult first fellow at Johns Hopkins, and someone for whom I life, and all that remains for me is to embroider on his have a special affection and regard, was my introducer, tapestry and pay tribute to those who have helped me Dr. Gary Hill. He has mentioned some of the other over the years. young people who worked with me over the years, and London in the late 1940s and 1950s was a wonderful I should like to record how much I enjoyed the relationplace to be for someone starting out in hypertension and ship and how grateful I am for their efforts. Tom Pearson the kidney. St. Mary’s was particularly well blessed, with should be added to this list, for it was largely through George Pickering in hypertension and Marc Joekes him that a return to atherosclerosis was made to explore (“Joe” to his friends) in renal disease. From these two the so-called monoclonal theory of its genesis, an idea I developed an abiding interest in their respective speproposed by the late Earl Benditt from Seattle. cialties, and this was reinforced by exposure to Harry Finally, I should like to pay tribute to my long-sufferGoldblatt, Arnold Rich, and Fred Germuth during two ing wife, Ann, who for the past 49 years has supported temporary stays in the United States. I also developed me in a most selfless way. Without her it would have been impossible to have achieved anything. an attachment to atherosclerosis at this time, stemming