At my first employer there were a number of old codgers, approaching retirement. One was retired Squadron Leader Peter Dawson, a pathfinder navigator and now head of R&D.
He used to enjoy telling the story of his first trip to Darmstadt after Merck purchased BDH Chemicals in the early 1970s.
He was asked by his opposite number if he had ever been to Darmstadt.
His reply: Yes, in 1945, it was burning nicely!"
