I retired in December 2019, returning part-time in the January. Well, we all know what happened the following month – I was made full-time to help with non-invasive ventilation on our Covid wards. I managed to miss getting Covid, but things are now back to’ post Covid normal’. I am now back to doing a couple of clinics and research sessions.
A quick synopsis – I was appointed to Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1986. My interests led me to establish our regional cochlear implant unit in 1990 with charitable funding before obtaining NHS support. The whole process of dealing with profound hearing loss has been a fascinating journey throughout the years. Back home, I designed and raised funds to build the Listening for Life Centre and was proud to have a Royal opening in 2009. From a team of 3, we now have over 30 members of staff and 5 surgeons running the auditory implant centre.
For the last 11 years, Anne and I have spent a couple of months a year in Malawi, in Sub-Saharan Africa, developing ENT services and infrastructure with some other colleagues. It has also involved travelling around neighbouring countries, developing lifelong friendships. I have been a member of WHO for the last several years.
Our charitable ventures have in part been supported by Rotary grants. You can’t be in one of the poorest countries in the world without coming across other needy causes. We met Andrew, who had been a street child, and who set up the Butterfly for Peace Foundation, which now helps educate street children. We have been involved in disaster relief during Cyclone Ida and Freddy, and more recently, with tree planting projects to educate families not to chop trees down for charcoal.
We now have three grandchildren. Jenny, our eldest, lives in Lowfell, Juliet lives with her family in Sardinia (a lovely place to visit, especially as she has a fabulous 5-bedroom B&B), and Jonathan and family just live up the road from us. When we have time, we love travelling on our narrow boat – snail’s pace – welcome to join us.
We are always on the go. The latest adventures have been the community purchase of the Brontë Birthplace in Thornton. Easter Sunday saw us dressed in period costumes to re-enact the move of the family from Thornton to the Parsonage in Haworth. The Birthplace was officially opened by the Queen on May 20th.
