While at medical school at St Thomas’, General Practice was always an intended destination and, after the usual round of house jobs, a further year in London taking the DPH course was also an excellent preparation.

I was very fortunate to meet Mary, a Nightingale Nurse before going to work in a Cottage Hospital in a northern Newfoundland outport for two years.

Six months in an Edinburgh practice followed, readjusting to the NHS, and then thirty extremely happy years in Romsey’s Alma Rd Practice with wonderfully supportive partners.

Following retirement in 2001, a few weeks of locum work over five years in the Orkneys was an excellent way to wind down.

The sad and sudden death of Dr John White lead to a fairly full time involvement with the Romsey Hospital Appeal over several years and a long term interest in the restoration of small unloved older buildings through our local Buildings Preservation Trust has continued: in spare moments the golf course and tennis court have successfully beckoned (very enjoyably but with no noticeable improvement!) together with regular visits to the splendid Fives courts in Winchester College.

Ten years at the back of the ‘cello section of the Winchester Symphony orchestra was a huge privilege and an experience not to have been missed.

We are fortunate to have a daughter and two sons with a total of nine grandchildren, six living in Romsey.

What do I find to do in my spare time? I have no idea as I have never had any!