THIS is my 520th consecutive column. Those of you who are reading these words are, by virtue of that fact alone, learned and wise citizens and will instantly note that I have therefore had the privilege of sharing my opinions with you for ten years.

And it is a privilege. I was invited to contribute to this paper in the wake of a letter I wrote probably "grumpy old manning" about something or other. Having read and admired the regular musings and observations of Arthur Church and Bill Potts over many years I was honoured to be in their company.

During the last decade the Bucks Free Press has evolved. My weekly offering has moved from the lighter, show-biz pages of Freetime into the main body of the paper.

With the successful transition from broadsheet to compact, I am now sitting happily here beside the letters page, which compels me to make sure I measure up to the high standards of our readers, from whose ranks may one day come the bright young columnist whose prose style and wit results in my being given the opportunity to spend more time with my family.

The Bucks Free offices have moved too, and there are very few members of staff in residence now who were around when I first appeared. One notable exception is Charles Mann, whose continued contributions I admire if only for their, shall we say, courage if occasionally I take a different view. The other is Steve Cohen, accomplished editor and journalist, wit, bon viveur, after dinner speaker and the man who gave me this job and who could take it away on a whim.

I am, in fact, more recognised locally now for this column than I am for having once been the proud possessor of a blue-police box (five previous owners, very high mileage, some exterior damage, in need of updating).

Most of you who are kind enough to comment on my ramblings are polite and encouraging. But I am glad to say that I irritate occasionally. Were I not to do so, then I would, I believe, not be doing my job. I have offended smokers, bureaucrats, those who put speed cameras in pointless places, the politically correct, those who play loud music and open their car windows so that we can share their execrable taste, litter louts, institutions that set up call centres operated by people whose English we can't understand... the list is endless.

Watch this space!