Newcastle Medical School gave me the foundation which enabled my forty year career in Vascular Surgery.I remain grateful for that. After learning the craft in Manchester I worked as a Consultant Vascular Surgeon in North Wales.
I retired in 2015.All memories of whatever I did pre retirement were then erased from my neuronal data bank.My remaining neurones were reprogrammed to learn a range of new skills.
I will gloss over my lack of skills with regard to ladders.
I learnt how to make English/Welsh long bows using traditional yew and ash but also a range of other British hardwoods.
I have learnt to bake bread: sourdough, Italian, gluten free.
I have learnt to cut the grass in our field with a scythe. Much better than a mower.
Most difficult of all has been learning to play the Scottish Highland Bagpipes.A work still in progress. (I promise not to bring them to the reunion ).
I still enjoy running. Ran the Manchester marathon with two of my sons in 2023.We are planning to run the Hadrian’s Wall half marathon in October.
My wife Valerie. a Consultant Paediatrician retired a few years after I did.We travelled a lot in the first few years.Long train trips around USA, Canada and Europe as well as many British trips in our campervan .In 2020 we planted 2500 broadleaf trees in our field. They have now grown into a lovely wood.
We have four children: a Consultant Psychiatrist, a Consultant Paediatrician, a soon to be Consultant Vascular Surgeon and a Science teacher.
At the start of this year we had two grandchildren.We now have four and our daughter is expecting twins in November. The next skill I need to learn is how to look after grandchildren responsibly!
Sadly my Ducati donor cycle that I used ti commute to work was reluctantly sold.It has been replaced by a rescue donkey called Jack, a gift from my daughter and her husband.
I am looking forward to meeting you all at the Golden Reunion.