JohnWebsterplayedanimportantroleinthehistoryoftheUniversityofExeterasamentor,acolleagueandanimportantinfluenceonsuccessivegenerationsoffungalbiologists.MyfirstencounterwithJohnWebsterwasasayoungLecturer,newlyappointedinlate1993totheDepartmentofBiologicalSciencesattheUniversityofExeter.IspoketoJohnaboutjoininghimonone