This feels just a little surreal. Those who've rubbed shoulders with me over the last few decades will be all too familiar with my aeromodelling history and my tenure of RCM&E magazine from 1996 to 2015. Many, however, won't be quite so well acquainted with my exploits in the model boating world. You see, model boating is where it all started for me. From the moment dad and I sat together (some 40 years ago) building my first proper balsa boat (a free-running 16" long Keil Kraft Neptune) I was hooked and longed for the day that I could afford a set of two-channel radio. This came two, possibly three years later when my late uncle (Louis Jefferys) donated his prototype Police Launch, christened Bobby. Bobby, as a handful of the old guard may faintly recall, was given away as a free plan in Model Boats (July 1977) and, as its published designer, my uncle Lou' became my new hero. Sporting Futaba Medallion radio and a Bob's Varispeed Motor Control Board this cracking little combination was all the inspiration I needed to launch into R/C boat builds many and varied, from the Aerokits Sea Hornet (complete with O.S. 10 Marine) to the Graupner Pegasus III, numerous tugs, a Duplex 575 yacht, a Thimble fast electric, one or two Glynn Guest designs, a Revell Titanic plastic kit conversion and many, many more. In all my years of R/C flying I've never been without a boat (or three) and as the new editor of this sacred ink-on-paper institution I can't help feeling that I've arrived back home. Truly, it feels great to be here and I'm massively excited about everything this new challenge has to offer.

For the last month Paul and I have been working together on the handover of the magazine which, I'm delighted to say, he's left in superb order. For his own, very personal, stewardship of Model Boats - in what has undoubtedly been the toughest decade in publishing since an inky-fingered John Bull sold his first Printing Outfit - Paul has kept the magazine right where it should be, leading the field. When you next see him, shake him by the hand, it's the least he deserves and, as such, I and all the crew here at MTM wish him a long and happy retirement. Once he has a cruise or two under his belt I've told him he has no choice but to come back and write for us. So, between you and me, I'm hoping we might see just a little more of Paul's outstanding workmanship in the weeks and months to come. That's it, I appear to be out of space so, for now, I'd like to thank you for continuing to support the magazine and look forward to bumping into you at, or near, a lakeside sometime very soon.
Graham Ashby