The philosopher AC Grayling, also the first head of a new private university, New College of the Humanities in central London, gave a lecture to the Upper School Scholars, the Philosophy Society, and guests from Rugby High School, Lawrence Sheriff and Ashlawn School and Science College last Thursday evening.

He used his lecture to remind the audience that the average span of human life is less than 1,000 months. “If a third of them you are asleep and a third you’re in Tesco’s,” he says, “the other third, about 25 years, is left to you to live well.”

He expands on this in The Telegraph (yesterday) with an Elizabeth Grice article on being a master of positive thinking.

Being asked to photograph the professor in the Temple Speech Room at Rugby School was a real privilege. A small selection of photographs can be seen below.

So, it may have been a little on the chilly side, but at least the rain held off! Les and Kath, now in their 70th year of married life together were both on good form and very pleased to see so many people from the family meeting up at Lauraine’s house last Sunday afternoon. The hog roast had been cooking in the back garden since 7.00 that morning and by the time we got to lunch it was full of the flavours you’d expect (if a little off-putting with its eyes still appearing to look at you!)

With good food, fine wine and excellent company came a speech from Philip to encourage everyone to raise a glass to celebrate the previous 69 years of marriage. Not that people needed encouraging, of course!

And then a response speech from Les which I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Packed with meaning, humour and emotion, he spoke with such clarity and thoughtfulness and touched the hearts of everyone there.

I hope I’m as happy as Kath and Les are when I’ve been married 69 years. Tomorrow, Karen and I celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary. Far fewer years but just as happy!

The photographs below are a small summary of the day. If you’d like a complete of them please email simon@bonjourphotography.com and I’ll arrange for that to happen.

Hope you enjoy them!

The weather was great, the food was excellent and only one person was unable to make the family party due to Volcanic ash. Wendy and Hilary organised a superb family gathering at the Imperial Hotel, London, and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, which I hope you can see from the photographs.

The party was organised with the intention of bringing together all members of the family from all over the world. I think it also coincided with a family member’s 120th birthday (not that he was there, of course!) but I was too busy taking photographs to get involved in piecing together the family tree, much as I wanted to!

Parties like this provide a great opportunity for taking photographs. Everyone is having a good time and children are naturally relaxed. But the setting was even better as the weather enabled everyone to spill outside into the park over the road.

Once outside we managed to grab some group shots (perfect for historical records!) and then some very informal shots of everyone enjoying themselves. All the children were running in and out of the fountain in the middle of the park which was great fun!

Sneak peeks below…

Some people may be filled with horror at the mere thought of turning 40, but not Nick and Caroline Lloyd, the forever-young couple who decided to celebrate their ‘coming of age’ in true class and style!

The Hampshire Court Hotel in Basingstoke was the venue for the black tie party which included fantastic entertainment from the ‘On Your Toes’ dance troop, of which Georgia Lloyd and Olivia Woods are keen members, a casino for the gambling savvy and a disco for all the dancing queens (and kings)!

The dance troop entertained us with several great numbers including a memorable routine to Supercalifragilisticexpealdocious (is that spelt right? Answers on a postcard!) which gave great credit to Karla, director of the display team.

The casino drew the crowds all hoping to convert their play money into millions and I can only apologise for my wife’s completely lucky winning streak at Pontoon, being crowned winner of the casino as she walked out with over £1,000 worth of play money (if only it were real, sigh).

After the wonderful buffet it was time for a boogie and it was great to see so many girls and guys up on the floor to a mix of disco classics!

If this night is an example of what turning 40 is all about, then bring it on I say! Caroline and Nick you have just raised the bar (or should I say, lowered it?).

Sneak peeks below.  Full slideshow at www.bonjourphotography.com/nickandcaroline.