Was it 30, 32 or 35 years? – the exact year has faded from the centre of our memory, yet it was for decades that we walked with him, side by side. Whenever Hannes hurried through the year, full of vigour and always ready for action, with his typical bustle, he was the one who put the brakes on the hectic rush in the tenth month and was there in the exhibition halls, as a constant source of stability, always available to everyone. Primarily our exhibitors were the ones who found with   him  a  "second home".  He   ab-

sorbed errors in planning with a sense of humour, he quickly and decisively solved "traffic problems", he keenly and fairly settled petty fights among exhibitors, in short – he was the ideal "contact point" for all technical and emotional concerns. Peter, indeed, Peter was for us one of the most valuable fellow advocates during the establishment of a once "exotic" trade fair. He lived through all the highs and lows, always loyal at our sides, was brilliant in withstanding the pressure of an ever-growing event – and became a respected role model to the (meanwhile necessarily numerous) young trade-fair assistants and employees.

Could we imagine the Mineralientage without Peter? This question would have been answered with a definite "no". Yet no one asked us. We must accept that this event is irreversible. What remains for us is the grateful, perpetual memory of a real friend.

Familie Keilmann