Praise was liberally showered on Sir Edward George at his City swansong, the annual Lord Mayor's banquet for the square mile's great and good - Eddie's 27th in a row. Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, praised his integrity, steadfastness and exemplary leadership during his service of 41 years, which culminated as the first governor of the newly independent central bank. Eddie was a man whose "dedication and integrity gives public service a good name."

The outgoing governor reciprocated