Mr Gates continued to play the key role in the company's growth.

BBC: Bill Gates

Even after that, however, Gates indicated that a continued role of some kind is likely.

CNN: Gates says missile attacks in Pakistan will continue

The charm offensive continued outside the gates to Downing Street, where the minister bumped into the photographer behind last week's pictures, Steve Back, and offered him a warm handshake.

BBC: Welsh Secretary walks and talks

More pertinently, they have continued to see a worrying fall in gates at the Deva, which is owned by the Chester city council.

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Gates also pushed innovation during a question and answer session Thursday, and continued to press his case for increased government spending on energy research and development.

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