Preface

Summary

Singularity Theory is a broad subject, involving a substantial number of mathematicians in most European countries. It was natural that a group should put together an application to the EU to set up a European Singularities Network (ESN) in 1993. It was equally natural that Terry Wall, of the University of Liverpool, should be selected to head up the bid and, subsequently, the organising committee.

One of the activities funded by the ESN was an international review meeting. Given that Terry Wall was born in 1936, a number of his friends, colleagues, and ex-students (some in all three categories) decided that, to honour him on his 60th birthday, the meeting should bear his name. It was held from the 18th to the 24th of August 1996, at the University of Liverpool. It is a sign of Terry's continued vigour in the subject that we felt it best to give a Web Page address (see the end of this preface) for a list of his current publications, rather than print that list at the time of going to press.

The meeting was attended by 88 mathematicians, 74 of them from 14 different countries outside the UK, and there were 61 talks. The festivities included a party hosted by Terry and his wife Sandra at their home, a multi-national football (soccer) match, and a trip to the Lake District to experience a traditional English downpour.