In complete shock at the passing of our former Commisioner, James Hart.  As a new staff officer to James, when he was Assistant Commissioner, I learnt so much from him about policing and stakeholder management.  He was a kind, compassionate and yet driven man. One of his stock phrases that still remains with me was “policing is best when we do it with people, not to them”. James had a presence in any room, his tall stature, charm and intelligence were attributes he used to good effect.  I was also the secretariat on James’s National Firearms Licensing Committee, witnessing closely how he manoeuvred between the Home Office, police Chiefs and the shooting community, with great skill, dedication and strategic direction.  I recall he left me stranded in a Home Office meeting once as he got up and suddenly left early, deliberately but with style and no rudeness, all part of a master plan he later told me but to make a very important point! Admirable, his integrity was second to none – officials were on the phone to apologise before we got back to police HQ. He liked a glass of red wine, Rioja, from recollection, but on travels with him across the UK he was a steadfast professional and would often talk through his thoughts and thinking with me in the car, asking my views. Yes with me, just a Sergeant but James gave credit to everyone around him.  He would often voice “we” instead of you, especially when I got something wrong, by using “we” he was saying, he backed me.  It was a great privilege to witness him taking to the office of Commissioner with aplomb. I credit James with developing and mentoring me to become a better police officer and subsequent leader – thank you.  My sincere and heartfelt condolences to Julie and his family.