We find Lord Patten of Barnes in reflective mood as he approaches his 70th birthday next month. At a recent lecture on universities in the 21st century, he claimed to be the holder of more Chancellorships than anyone in history, and reckoned he also held the record for most degrees handed out.
This, he said, was largely due to his appointment to the role in almost every university in Hong Kong during his governorship, but is helped by his ten years at Newcastle, and the fact that his role as Chancellor of Oxford University is for life.
The first of May will be the third anniversary of his arrival at the BBC Trust, for a four-year term; so the new Culture Secretary will soon begin the hunt for a successor, doubtless with some suggestions from Chris himself. I reckon someone will be identified before Christmas comes.
In other anniversaries, it's ten years since Lord Patten invested in his holiday home in the Tarn area of the Midi-Pyrenees - a rather shambling 17th century farmbuilding, but complete with ageing tennis court, small pool and frog ponds. Next year he'll have more chance to visit.
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