I would like to express my thanks to the Council of theRoyal Aeronautical Society for inviting me todeliver this lecture. I am very happy that thishonour has been extended to me: I am happy formyself, and also for my country, Barbados, one ofthe newest sovereign states, but one which hasevolved with the British Commonwealth. Ourrelationship has existed since 1625 and apart fromwhat I believe to be the first case of UDI in theBritish Colonial Empire in the Cromwell era, we havebeen stalwart members of the club.

In November 1966 Barbados became a sovereign state, thecolonial days were over. From here on we have been afull member of the British Commonwealth ofNations.