Lynn, you leave us with your nationality intact,
despite cultural conditioning, both profound and exact.
You have defied the mayhem of Black Country mores;
now you can add to its folklore and stories.
The day has arrived when you can quit servin’
the needs and the challenges of the redoubtable Ervin!
You can junk all those strategies to defy the strong pound,
and forget your marketing plans that you thought were so sound.
But how will you manage without the rest of us here?
Surely, alternate company will seem pretty small beer!
Our own collective wisdom - all tanked up to go,
members talking, arguing, debating in full flow.
When you open the Wall Street Journal, wont your spirits sag
as you compare it to the erudite wisdom of Roger Martin-Fagg?
Do you think you will become another salty stayer
like that renogade old roue, the indomitable Lee Thayer?
Wont you want to fix a ‘brown bag session’ a la Larry King,
Building unstoppable teammates until they almost take wing?
And what of that Irish American with his magical MPR?
Well, perhaps his method has allowed you to go this far...
We thank you for your company Lynn, we thank you for your style,
for your quietness, and your patience, and your willingness to stay awhile.
Now go and claim your new life, you deserve every minute there is.
But don’t doubt for one moment that it’s you, yourself, we’ll miss.
For Lynn Rogers, Written in Coventry.