The Agates of England n Elseware

Some years ago I applied for a job at a fairly well known pharmaceutical company and during the "blurb" where the interviewer told me of the company history etc. he made what I thought at the time was the sweeping statement that it is virtually impossible to go through any one day in modern life without touching one of their products. It is beside the point that the statement turned out to be true but the reason it struck a cord with me is because my grandfather used to say practically the same thing ! At family parties he would instill in us all that to be an "Agate" was something special and nobody goes through life without meeting one, being touched by one or having strong feelings for one ( whether that be love or hate ) it is almost certainly true that when we get together as a family the occassion is not easily forgotten. With the family now scattered worldwide, get togethers are becoming fewer and the sense of family and family history seems to be fading with less and less opportunities to pass on that feeling of pride in the family name. Therefore this small effort on my part is an attempt at bringing the "family" back together, to share stories and histories alike. I do hope to share this with my grandchildren and great grandchildren because apart from the Royal Family and possibly the pilgrim fathers I don't suppose many can say they can name their grandads back to Queen Elizabeth 1 reign ! Enjoy