I would like to acknowledge those who have helped me in writing this book.

Above all, my thanks go to my mother and father, for countless reasons. Perhaps the least of them is that it was they who coerced me, one Sunday afternoon, into reading aloud a very early draft of the book to the whole family, along with various of my sisters’ friends and love-interests then stalking the kitchen. I’d like to thank all those present for the flood of helpful suggestions, not to mention ribald abuse, that peppered that reading. It had a profound effect on many aspects of the book and, indeed, on the very methods used to write it. Chief among these was the decision that all mnemonics within the book be repeatedly and rigorously tested on anyone kind enough to listen.

This experimental technique has, I am aware, been a source of great suffering for friends and colleagues. First in the firing line have been those at home. Henrietta Williams and Barbara Pizl deserve a lifetime’s supply of orchids, at the least, for their sunny tolerance and help, while Daithi Roche has earned the cognomen ‘top-dog’ many times over. Similarly, I owe deep thanks to my employers at Inspire-education, Neil and Stew Denley; to Dickon Ausden, Mel Riggall, Katy Band, Alastair Scott-Dalgleish, Karl Knoll, Juliette Danjon, Erica Jarnes, George Horton and L’Equipe.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the role played by my polymath chauffeur, Dan James, in the writing of this book. Much of the work was done peripatetically, you see, as work took me round the schools of the Midlands. Dan, between jobs, kindly responded to a friend in need and drove me about. So acute were his many suggestions, so patient, helpful and creative his advice, that our author–chauffeur roles were at times in danger of being reversed. It was nonetheless a constant boon to my morale to know not only that I had a driver, but that he had just scored a top-40 single.

Various members of the Askesian Society have read proofs of this work and commented helpfully: particularly Al Hearn, Adrian De Froment, Hamid Khanbhai, Jonny Lowndes and Paul Reeve. They have my warmest thanks and friendship. As do four teachers, for assorted guidance and inspiration: Colin Fraser, Kevin O’Regan, Kia Nobre and John Sutton.

Not least for her indulgence, I’d like to thank my mus-ical dance partner, Orlanda Ward; I’m also indebted to my grandmother for consultancy on family history. Many ideas, and much fun, has meanwhile come from and through teaching – thanks in particular to Josh and Dinah Foer, Jamie Onslow and the citizens of Wem; and, of course, to all those who have turned out on foggy Sunday mornings for the original memory walks that were the book’s inspiration.

This book would never have been written were it not for the ‘memory championships community’, who serve as a kind of amateur research programme in ways to enhance human memory and are a constant source of insight and camaraderie. Thanks to all, but notably Dominic O’Brien, who first introduced me to memory techniques, and my mentor and training-partner, Lukas Amsuess.

It is with an emotion bordering on sadness that I express my thanks to Yeti McCaldin, who has done such wonders with the illustrations. The thought that she will not always be at hand to depict my thoughts is a stinger; it has been a pleasure working with her.

Lastly, and most of all, it is with immense gratitude and respect that I acknowledge and express my thanks to my gifted and skilful editor, Jenny Dean. She shaped this book from its very inception and her gaiety, focus and taste have sustained my efforts, and much improved them.