In the early 1970s, a research program was started at AKZO-Nobel to study the formation of thin polymeric layers by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) via polymerisation of reactive intermediates generated by thermal fragmentation of suitable precursors. These precursors were sublimed at low pressure into a hot tube, which is different from classical pyrolysis. Today, this pyrolysis or thermolysis technique is generally known as flash vacuum pyrolysis or thermolysis (FVP or FVT). In the course of this research, it appeared that we became engaged in a competition with Australian scientists. Our preparation of isobenzofuran by FVP took place at about the same time as Warrener’s and Wege’s syntheses, and our work on fulvenallenes and azafulvenones had close connection with results described by the groups of Crow and Wentrup. When we wrote a short review, I came in contact with Roger Brown, who at that time planned to write a modern book on pyrolysis, which was badly needed as a successor to Hurd’s monograph of 1929. From the time that Roger Brown’s monumental book appeared, we were regularly exchanging ideas on our mutual interest in FVP research. Roger Brown stayed quite often for long periods in Europe on sabbatical leave, which provided several opportunities to meet. In later years, he liked particularly to stay in The Netherlands with his lovely wife Mary. His sojourn with Professor Binne Zwanenburg at the University of Nijmegen, who was also engaged in FVP research, was quite a memorable event. Another FVP group in Holland, namely that of Professor Leo W. Jenneskens at the University of Utrecht, hosted Roger Brown several times. Before coming to Holland to stay with Binne Zwanenburg, he and his wife learnt Dutch. They spoke this difficult language quite well in fact; once, when he was asked for directions at the station, he answered in Dutch, and the person who asked the question did not notice any ‘Down Under’ accent. Roger Brown had contacts with many chemists all over the world. He and his collaborator Frank Eastwood made Monash University in Melbourne an international centre for FVP research. During his sabbaticals, Roger Brown visited several universities in Europe. Once, we did a lecture tour in France together, visiting inter alia Professsor Ripoll, also a FVP practitioner, at the University of Caen. In the meantime, Roger Brown was teaching me about European history and culture, of which he was very knowledgeable. We visited several places of pilgrimage in Normandy of which he knew a great deal – typical of Roger, a man who liked to know the finest details. He also enjoyed some culinary traditions, including drinking a good calvados. In Holland, Binne Zwanenburg organised several mini-symposia for Dutch FVP colleagues with Roger Brown as a guest of honour. Roger Brown’s book was of great help in focusing and streamlining the vast amount of pyrolysis work. The more recent book edited by Vallee is a welcome supplement on specific topics. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) originate from the high temperature reaction conditions of pyrolysis and combustion, and are therefore always present in tar and soot. Our interest in PAH pyrolysis chemistry arose from work at AKZO-Nobel to characterise the soot that covers spent zeolite catalysts taken from fluidised catalytic cracking plants. PAH and soot formation must involve condensation of small volatile reactive species present in the hot gas phase. Research on the small, highly reactive fragments has a longstanding tradition in Australia. A crucial topic is the thermal equilibration of benzyne and cyclopentadienylidenecarbene. For larger structures the acetylene–vinylidene rearrangement has significant synthetic potential, ultimately providing an entry to pre-buckminsterfullerene type structures. Pyrolysis at temperatures around 8008C of benzyne precursors such a phthalic anhydride, which we exploited to make biphenylene on a preparative scale, invariably resulted in extensive carbonisation and tar formation. However, when starting with commercial ninhydrin, a pyrolysis temperature between 5508C and 6008C was sufficient to obtain pure biphenylene after extraction of the resulting tarry material with n-hexane. The residual tar fractions from the phthalic anhydride and ninhydrin pyrolyses were investigated by the group of Professor Nel H. Velthorst (Free University of Amsterdam), who determined masses of 228 (corresponding to triphenylene), 302–304, 352, 376–380, 450–452, 498–500, 526–528, 574–576, 600– 602, 652, 676–678, 702, 726, and 752, thus suggesting a build-up of PAHs with increments of 74, themass of benzyneminus 2H.Ourwork on pyrolytic PAH formation resulted in me becoming a coauthor of a publication from Brown’s group. This highly rewarding international cooperation continued with studies related to our observation that triphenylene (1) is converted to cyclopent[h,i]acephenanthrylene (2) (Scheme 1). The mechanistic aspects of this reaction were explored further in an Australian– Dutch–Romanian collaboration involving various dehydrotriphenylene precursors that ultimately yield compound 2 on pyrolysis. I highly value the contributions of Roger Brown’s group and the important contributions of this eminent scientist. I thank Professor Curt Wentrup for his kindness in reminding me of all the work on FVP that I shared with Roger Brown and his colleagues, and the Australian chemical community as a whole.