14th August, 1978

Sir John Rendrew, CBE, ScD, PRS,
European Molecular Biology Laboratory,
69 Heidelberg,
Postfach 10.2209,
BRD.

My Dear John,

   I see that you are still fixed in the idea that exercise, like fagging,
is something that stops when one leaves school. You are right that the
.precise value of exercise is the prevention of heart attacks, etc. has
still to be rigorously demonstrated though there are some very suggestive :.
studies.  There is a research programme on this at La Jolla and indeed I
am part of their data!  Its true that it isn't likely to benefit you much
unless you do it the right way.  That is, in their jargon, "aerobically"
(which means you pant), gradually (in several senses) and fairly regularly.
Alas, the debilitating effects of life in England have already taken their
toll and my fitness seems to have dramatically declined since I saw you
last.  Incidentally, jogging isn't really a good solution. Its apt to
jar the spine, its usually inconvenient to do and to most people its boring.
I can recommend swimming, at least in the sunshine. When the weather is'
poor,Odile quite likes bouncing about en a mini-trampoline, as its a lot
mDre fun than just running on the spot.  But all this, I can see, is unlikely
to convert you.  Perhaps you had.:,jbetter try living in California:

  As to R.V. Jones, by all means lets have a chat about this post-war
situation but my recollections of that period are now so dim that I doubt
if they are much use.

  I`enclose copies of two recent letters I have received (and my replies)
which explain themselves.  I should have thought that EMBO might usefully
be involved with one or both of these schemes but that I leave to you.

F.H.CXrick