The concentration of manufacturing in a mill brought about that well known phenomenon 'the industrial revolution' in which Britain led the world. That period of industrial development was, based on a material model-simply making it work was the challenge. We are now embarking on a data-driven society-the so-called 'systems society'. The address explores industrial history through the town of Bury and the Peel family, and charts the future opportunities and needs of a population of nearly 60 million. But the key question is what now?