Here in New York we have a long tradition of patting the Brits on the back for a good job of evacuation. We have a holiday, celibrated for decades, and brought back by the late Paul O'Dwyer, called Evacuation Day, which celibrates the British evacuation of New York.

As they left, they nailed a Union Jack to a greased flag pole on the battery. A young fellow drove nails through his shoes and while the fleet was still in the harbour, climbed up and tore down the Union Jack and nailed up the stars and stripes.

The holiday is celbrated by climbing a greased flag pole and doing the same... a sort of race day.

The US is now in a possition where it should also get more used to a good evacuation, and there are a number of places which may someday adopt the New York holiday.

So, to all our British cousins, have a happy evacuation.

All the best
Lorcan Abu