Born in Harrogate, Yorkshire on 23rd April 1936.
Married Audrey O Jones 1963. [ a Cardiac Theatre Sister at Guy’s Hospital. London]. Sons Graham, Alexander and Peter. Grandchildren India and Finn.
Education. Malsis Hall Prep School; Scholarship to Bootham School, York. Magdalene College, Cambridge.1956-9 Natural Science Tripos. Clinical studies at Guy’s Hospital, London. Qualified MRCS. LRCP 1962; MB BChir 1963.
National Service in the Royal Navy – on discharge Sub/Lt RNVR.
House jobs in Guildford before starting a 44 year career in General Medical Practice at Wokingham in Berkshire. General Practice was in the doldrums in 1966 and he became active in both Royal College of General Practitioners [RCGP] and British Medical Association [BMA] – research and committee work. With the support of the Oxford Regional Hospital Board, he carried out a research project “Your views on the Future of General Practice in the Reading Area”. 97% [231] of all the GPs in the Area responded and the final report influenced GMSC policy.
He was chairman of the BMA’s Junior Members Forum in 1969 and proposed a motion on “Sex education in schools” that was passed at the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting. He campaigned for the need for Medical Students to have first hand experience in General Practice; the value of Health Centres; the active participation of GPs at the emerging Post Graduate Centres.
The M4 motorway was being planned in 1968 and as Chairman of the Wokingham Civic Society’s M4 Action Group he was instrumental in defeating a County Council scheme for joining the M4 with the M3. The new road link would have destroyed most of the recreational spaces and school playing fields across the town.
He moved to the Uppingham Road Practice, Leicester in 1970 before joining a 3 man Practice in Leicestershire’s first Health Centre at Syston in 1971. Since then the Practice has doubled in size and taken on a major teaching role. He was always.an enthusiastic and dedicated family doctor but in addition he found time for other medical interests.In 1984 and 1985 he did single handed locums in Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
He was appointed one of the first “Man in Society” Tutors in the Department of General Practice at the new Leicester Medical School which started in 1974. He was a Trainer for the Leicester Vocational Training Scheme for General Practice for 14 years and Chairman of the Trent Regional GP Sub Committee.
He retired from full time practice in 2001 but continued to do Locums until July 2009.
As Secretary to the Leicestershire and Rutland Division of the BMA, he was the prime mover in a successful campaign to force the Labour Government of the day, Secretary of State Barbara Castle, to give Leicestershire its fair share of the NHS resources. Prior to that Leicestershire was only getting 78% of the National average. The campaign was backed by all the nine local MPs; all the local Medical and Nursing professions; the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the Leicester Mercury;
As the BMA’s local Press Officer for over 30 years he promoted successful National campaigns on :-
He was President of the local Division in 1991 and made a Fellow of the BMA.
In 1984, as Chairman of the Leicester Faculty he organised the Spring Meeting of the Royal College of General Practitioners with the theme “Living with Big Brother.” Daniel Lambert featured on the publicity papers.
He was elected Fellow of the RCGP 1981. Provost of the Faculty 2002-5.
Member of the Leicestershire Local Medical Committee from 1970. Chairman 1990 to 1998. Agenda Committee of the National Conference of Local Medical Committees for 12 years.
General Practitioner’s Committee Member 1999-02
President Leicester Medical Society 2003-4
Non medical activities include:-
Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society Council 2001-10. President 2005-6.
Member “Save the trees on London Road” Action Committee 1971. The Eastern Relief Road was eventually dropped by the Leicester City Council.
Chairman Cossington Resident’s Action Committee formed to monitor sand and gravel extraction.
Chairman Friends of All Saints Church Cossington formed to raise funds to restore and improve the village church, and its Secret Gardens Sub Committee.
Chairman the “Epicureans” a food and wine Society for over 25 years.
Ex Secretary Leicester Wyvern Probus Club and now President Elect.
Main interests:- Family and friends; socialising; travel and sea cruising; gardening and wall building; photography and video recording; painting and sculpture; DIY; salmon fishing; sailing; skiing; golf, music – cello and choir member, drama – was the General in Peter Ustinov’s Romanov and Juliet and the barrister in Mortimer’s Dock Brief, NADFAS lectures and church recording; family history; selected television; food and drink.
Publications :-
“Your views on the Future of General Practice”. Reading Area Survey 1969.
Dr Bunyan’s Progress, Update Plus, March 1971 to Feb 1973.
“Out of Hours calls in a Leicestershire Practice” BMJ 1976, 1, 1582-1584.
Presidential address – “A philosophy for the 21st Century”. Transactions Vol 100. Dec 2006. p. 2-7.