Some News from the Blogmaster

I discovered Malcolm Forsythe lurking in my garden on Saturday afternoon, and found he had paid £5 for the privilege of visiting it, along with seven other gardens in Winchelsea, open for the National Gardens Scheme charities, and attracting about 1000 visitors. He has heard that Simon Brook is acutely ill in Addenbrooke's, and may not be able to get to our reunion. Let's all hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Terence English has published his autobiography, which I haven't seen yet, but am looking forward to reading. possibly as an e-book on the Kindle I have been promised for my forthcoming birthday.

I've been invited to do a year of Friday morning allergy clinics at Guy's, (maternity leave cover), starting in August, but have stipulated that I shall need to get away promptly on 9 September. I showed Malcolm the application form that Guy's sent me. The guidance notes, running to four A4 sides, gave a stern warning about the poor impression created by bad presentation, followed by a succession of howlers, including references to "short-listening" and the news that "the disclosure of a criminal record will not atomically debar you from appointment". (That would be the nuclear option I suppose).

I'm eating with Tony Bron tomorrow, Monday 27 June, at the RSM, so hope to persuade him to contribute to the blog.
LY

Peter Nicklin

Many of you may remember that I had a spot of bother actually qualifying and so it was not until 1962 that I finally made it. Nevertheless I have been assured that it will be alright to submit my history to all you 1961-ers, as I am sure I will asked again for the 1962-ers. Sadly I will not be able to join in the celebrations this year.

I was born in Zanzibar and brought up in Malawi and Zambia and it was always my intention to get back to Zambia as soon as I could. This I did in 1964, joining a mining company where I was one of ten doctors. Here I stayed for eleven years, getting thrown into anaesthetics, getting married and having two children.

The Zambian economy is dependent largely on copper and, when it became clear that the industry was going into decline, it was also clear it was time to go. And where did I go? Back to Guys. This for six months so as to get a DA. I realised, though, that anaesthetics was not for me and, instead, I pursued general practice.

I have nothing against Gosport and, indeed, I had a happy two years there but I am not sure I could have stuck it for the rest of my working life. So when an offer came for work in Mombasa, g.p.cum anaesthetist, I moved again, with my family, to my beloved Africa. And here I have been ever since, 34 years, even taking out Kenyan citizenship. After seven years at the coast I moved inland to a huge hydro-electric scheme and a most enjoyable job, unfortunately ending when the dam was built. Then four years at a private hospital at the foot of Mount Kenya. Then back to Mombasa, sort of, where I joined Starline Cruises as their ship's doctor on a lovely little ship, the Royal Star, for five years.

A life at sea is no place for a happily married life and unfortunately mine crumbled. I thought I had better put roots down somehere and what better than a horticultural company in Naivasha. I married the ship's photographer, had two more children (now 10 and 8), left the rose farm after four years, returning to general practice (in Naivasha) where I have been for the past decade.

So no chance of retirement just yet. My g.p. work includes doctoring for three small flower farms, a tourist hotel and a prep. school but this still leaves time for golf. I live at the local golf club, the first tee being no more than 25 metres from my front door. I should really be better than I am, at golf that is, but, although I have had both knees replaced and can happily stroll through 18 holes, both my shoulders are now packing up, severely restricting both backswing andfollow-through.

My multi-talented wife is amazing; pianist, artist and cook. She has set up a small company called Life Beads Kenya, employing sixteen people, either physically handicapped or else HIV positive, making all kinds of beadwork as well as leather and basketwork, upholstering and uniforms. She has a website: http://www.lifebeadskenya.org or click on link at right

if anyone might wish to know more.

So, that's about it. Sorry I can't be with you at the bash in September. I'm actually in England at this very moment (June), on a short visit to my not-so-well brother, and to make a second trip in a year is not possible. If anyone of you might be visiting Kenya and passing through Naivasha then we would love to see you:
e-mail pm@lifebeadskenya.org
tel. +254 733 715482
address Naivasha Sports Club, PO Box 1869, Naivasha 20117, Kenya

Edward (Eddie) Young

After a long drought, at last some fresh activity on the blog. Eddie has sent a brief biography, and also the class picture above featuring some of us in our first year at Guy's. Eddie is far right, second row down. Click on the picture to enlarge it, as usual.

Here is Eddie's contribution:

I loved the blogs of Mike Steyn and Professor Bill, from each end of the globe. I didn’t get so far. I arrived at Guy’s in 1955 from my home in Reading, got a job in Reading in 1970, and 26 years later retired there at 60. Fifteen years on I’m still there. If we had a competition to choose a ‘Doctor stick-in-the-mud’, I reckon I’d be in there with a good chance.

I met my wife Sally in 1961 when she was a student nurse at Pembury, and I was there with my flat-mate Gwyn Daniel doing my second house job. He married one of Sally’s nursing friends Wendy Dive, and in 2003 we went to their ruby wedding celebrations in Wales. In 2004 they came to Reading for ours.

I toyed with the idea of General Practice, but after jobs in obstetrics and paediatrics settled on anaesthetics, by chance getting a consultant post at Reading while an SR at Oxford. That was the end of my globe-trotting. I loved the job, the department, and the people, and I stayed there until I retired in 1996.

Two of our children took a medical road – Alison (staff nurse, cardiac ICU Oxford) and Tim (consultant neurologist, Queen Square / Whittington). The others chose different paths: Hazel is head of HR (we called it personnel) at Brighton University, and Edward is deputy private secretary to the Queen.

Retirement didn’t bring carpet slippers. Our feet have hardly touched the ground. Sorting out the kids was bad enough – now it’s grandchildren – four, with number five on the way

I did the last of my seven London marathons just after I retired, and occasionally do a 10K with Hazel in Brighton. It’s good for the weight, and keeps me out of the pub (for a bit).

We’re looking forward to September!