For Betty Burton br A friend for over thirty years. br br br It is funny just how time slips away. br It only seems like yesterday br when the two of us met, br long, long ago in 1976. br It was in September of that year br a friend persuaded me br to go along to a writing class br to help boost up the numbers br and my moral. br With just four pupils br and five when I came along, br so a small intimate group br all with the desire to write, br but Betty became br the most famous of us all br with over thirteen br historical romantic bestsellers. br She really has made her name. br I am proud to say br I was there when she began. br I remember when br she had her first short story published br it was a treat to us all. br If Betty could do it br then there was some hope for us all. br She even started teaching br and I was a guest speaker br at one of her classes, br and as the years passed on by, br we met up with one another br very occasionally, br but what remained br even to this day br was a lasting friendship. br About that br there is nothing more to say.