The invitation, made to me, to write the introduction to this volume of the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which is dedicated to Norman Feather, suggested that I should place on record some of my reminiscences which might convey a picture of his character and personality. I feel, however, that first I should make some reference, albeit brief, to the distinction of his contributions to science over the 45 years which have elapsed since he first started to research in the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge.