CXHMS Reunion Book 1979-2019

1979 40 YEAR REUNION

So, we were all in Charing Cross Hospital Medical School 40 years ago! Where has that time gone?

I have The Likely Lads theme tune ringing in my head – “Oh what happened to you? whatever happened to me? What became of the people we used to be?”

A few years ago Sue Buck contacted me and a few other friends trying to organise a get together.

Mary Walton had been unwell and a catch up in person seemed well overdue. The years just rolled away when we met . Sue, Debbie, Monica, Janet, Mary and I have been meeting up under the auspices of ‘Shenanigans’ since. Very sadly our dear friend Mary died last year.

So we decided to put out feelers for this reunion . We are delighted that so many people made contact and sent bios and photos and will be attending “the do”. It has been lovely to find out what became of us all, inside and outside medicine.

The photos at the end reveal what a time was had at CXHMS and why it is still so important to us!

Those 5+ years we spent under the roof of Charing Cross are a common bond and it’s great to know so many friendships have endured. We have so many shared memories!

We share your sadness for the loss of CX friends much too soon.

Who knew where we would end up when we started in 1979? It seems life took us on very varied paths to many countries, specialties, experiences and careers.

Not everyone wanted contact and we have kept information about them brief. A few were untraceable even by super sleuth Janet! They are still part of our very formative CX experience and are remembered.

WOW! The mugshots from ‘79 !! We’ve worn well!!! Or do I need to go to Specsavers :-)

We are looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it to the reunion dinner and wish everyone who can’t all the very best Maybe next time?!?

If you want an email contact of a friend please contact us directly at cxhms1979.2019reunion@gmail.com Gill, Janet, Monica, Debbie and Sue.

THE CLASS OF 1984

BIOGRAPHIES The following section has our biographies and photos.

Hope you enjoy reading them as much as we have.

We remember CX friends who are no longer with us Maggie Attwood, Mark Cullinan, Steve Marossey, June Lee and Frances (Fae) Harding.

Since the last reunion we are very sad to report that Claire Sargent, Janet Swain, Deirdre O’Gallagher, Jon Hildebrand and Mary Walton have died.

Thank you to their friends for writing tributes to them .

VICTOR ABDULLAH

My dear friends, It’s such a pity that I cannot be at the gathering in September 2019 despite my effort to rearrange commitments. I hope that you are all well and I look forward to seeing all the updated photos in our 40th Anniversary booklet.

I am working in Hong Kong as a Consultant Otolaryngologist with the Hospital Authority (Government i.e. NHS equivalent) and as an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I shall be 59 years in September 2019 and am coming to the retirement age in Hong Kong at 60 years in 2020. I shall probably join my friends for a light private practice thereafter.

I have specialized in Paediatric Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine/Surgery and have been busy commissioning the ENT unit at the first Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. Currently, I am also serving the Hong Kong College of Otorhinolaryngologists as her President.

I have two daughters and my wife is still working hard as a solicitor. My daughters are 27 years and 25 years now. They were both educated in UK and my elder daughter is a trainee solicitor in Hong Kong and my younger one is a clinical psychologist looking after children at a NGO in Hong Kong.

They are both busy always and I hardly see them now but know that they are happy with their work.

I miss you all and our time at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, the anatomy tutorials, vivas, Professor Glenister’s post examination interviews and clinical training live on vividly in my mind and all seems like yesterday. Take good care please, keep in good health and always stay young, at least in mind. Love you all always!

THERESA ALLAIN

As you can see I have got more conventional as I have got older! I am still working as a consultant Geriatrician, in Bristol. A career which I have loved. I feel lucky that I found a niche within medicine that has given me so much enjoyment and job satisfaction. My career has been punctuated by 9 years in Africa: 2 years in Zimbabwe in the 90s and 7 years in Malawi in the noughties. It is fascinating that the practical and generic skills of a geriatrician made me an effective physician in extremely resource-poor settings. I love postgraduate education, seeing young doctors become competent colleagues. This is particularly true of the many Malawian students that I taught and are now contributing so much to the health service in their country.

I met Rob Heyderman when we were SHOs at CX in 1986 and we have had 33 happy years together (so far). We have 2 great kids- both had their teenage years in Malawi and have a legacy of social conscience and a desire to improve the world. I feel a huge affection for CX and all of you, who were part of my life at that time. When I thought of a song that reminded me of those times Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins sprung into my mind. Happy memories of bops in the Reynolds Building. I can’t wait to meet up with some of you in September.

PREM ANAND

This is a photograph of the Anands at my son’s 18 birthday at a Hawksmoor restaurant in Covent Garden.

Jacqueline trained as a nurse at CXH . We have been married over 30 years now and our 5 children are all grown up getting on.

Jacqueline has started work as an HCA in my GP practice and I continue to work full time and train, appraise and run a few local GP companies.

We keep well , eat well , drink beer and holiday defying ill heath by keeping our insides wet and our outsides , dry.

Prem and Jacqueline.

JEREMY AXON

"I settled in Hertfordshire in 1994 when I became a consultant in Rheumatology

covering Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Hertford. I was single handed as were all the other consultants with a very good relationship with the GPs. There were regular meetings, socialising as well as society golf and cricket. In about 2004, we merged with the Lister, Stevenage, becoming a depersonalised conglomerate. I acquired four colleagues and we are now a big department with 8 Rheumatology nurses. My main remit is to cover the smaller out reach hospitals which I enjoy. I still have a couple of years to go before formal retirement but as I enjoy the work and patients, I will go part time for a little while.

I have been happily married to Julia since 1991. We have three children; Tom (26), Alex (23) and Georgie (19). They have all enjoyed their sport so I have been able to indulge my passion for rugger, cricket, tennis and golf.

I have nothing but good memories of my time a CXHMS. I have always said that I would happily redo those years (you soon forget about the amount of work especially anatomy!). I am asked if there is any particular music that remains me of my time? Well Wal used to sing and hum several tunes after each bop at the Reynolds and I don`t remember them being ABBA.

IAN BACARESE HAMILTON

Giving up the NHS after 25 years as Consultant in Orthopaedics & Trauma at The Whittington. Now starting a new era, Head of Department at The Schoen Clinic, Marylebone. Three boys; Joe an Orthopaedic SPR, Tom just starting F1 at Wexham Park and Matt studying engineering at Brunel.

Sorry we can’t be there. Keep in touch.

Ian & Jessica

DAVID BALDWIN

The suicide of Ian Curtis of Joy Division in May 1980 kindled my interest in depression and its treatment, and in August 1985 led me to catch the Metropolitan train to Paddington to start psychiatry in the St Marys Hospital training scheme. I was disappointed by the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, leaving

swiftly to run a community psychiatry service in Acton.

I moved to Southampton in 1994, to coordinate its undergraduate psychiatry teaching. I am now Professor of Psychiatry, still in Southampton, where I run a regional service for patients with affective disorders, and conduct research into the causes and treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders. My highlight? Being awarded an Honorary Professorship at the University of Cape Town. My musical

memory? It has to be ‘(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais’, by The Clash: how great it was to arrive in West London in 1979 – determined to see as many punk gigs as possible, if not sure about becoming a doctor.

MARK BELLAMY

Prof Mark Bellamy read medicine at St John’s College, Cambridge and subsequently at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School (now part of his fondest memories). After qualifying he worked in medicine, emergency medicine, anaesthesia and critical care in the South West of England, and in Uppsala, Sweden, before being appointed as Consultant in Intensive Care at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, in 1993, and Professor of Critical Care in 2004.

He has an interest in transfusion first sparked by involvement with the liver transplant programme and the management of coagulopathy and major haemorrhage.

Mark chaired the hospital transfusion committee from early in his clinical career, and has subsequently served on the National Transfusion Committee, the National Commissioning Group for Blood, and the SHOT Steering Group, which he has chaired since 2017.

He has also been President of the Intensive Care Society, served on Council of the Anaesthetic Research Society, the Board of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, and held Royal College and University examinerships in the UK and internationally.

Outside of work, he has four children, three grand-children, a pilot’s licence (and flies his Twin Comanche regularly), enjoys music, skiing, and watching his family grow.

KEVIN BLEWETT After two gruelling army house jobs, I did my time in Sandhurst (- all their efforts to make an officer out of me were to no avail) then 6 years in the army combining GP training with life as a medical officer to the Scots and Grenadier Guards.

At the age of 34, I was shocked to find that somebody loved me, and I married the beautiful Gena, a nurse from Czech. (Love is far more interesting than medicine) My two boys are on the verge of surpassing my 6 ft 4 and ¾ While at the Cross I developed a faith, and leading up to 1996 I gradually reduced my GP hours down to zero, going full time in the ministry and starting a Church. (After all, the soul is of more value than the body.) Do I miss medicine? Honest answer…?

A memory of CXH? Pulfrey with hosepipes coming out of his white coat? Shooting the woffly psychologists? Crawling out of lecture theatres to play bar football? Writing poems during lectures about psychologists with Keith Hopcroft? (Dr Copperfield?)

Presenting “Freda the cat” to the class, who was about to be executed for pathology experiments, then being dragged before an arrogant Prof Soper? Being summoned to the Dean “for using a firearm in the lecture theatre?” Having my mental health examined by student health to appease Soper? Being the only one to leave CXH certified sane? So many wonderful memories!

KATHERINE EDWARDS (NÉE BOODLE)

After dabbling in hospital medicine for a few years I decided to settle down, become a G.P and have children.

For the past 20 years I have been a GP partner in a small practice in North London. I remain happily married to Mike [Edwards] [ 30 years last year] and have 2 sons.

So many memories of really fun filled times during 6 years at Charing Cross. These include running the cocktail bar at the Rag Ball with my good friend Theresa ,kebabs down the Fulham Palace Road on a Friday night ,late night cinema at The Gate and many evenings spent in The Anchor or The Light of Nepal or both.

Music that always reminds me of my time at CXHMS. One step beyond by Madness.

STUART BRAND

I am a GP partner and trainer in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Apart from the usual, I do joint injections, minor surgery, dermoscopy and am IT lead.

After finishing GPVTS I spent 18 months in Australia, half working as a GP locum and half travelling. After that I spent 10 yr as a GP locum. During that time I worked for 70 GP practices, army, air force, prison and immigration detention centre. I also co-founded the Oxford Locum Group. Locuming was such an easy & stress free existence that I could not resist carrying on far longer than I had planned.

I met my wonderful wife, Lois, in 2000 and married in 2002. Our first house was in the centre of Woodstock where we had free access to Blenheim Palace grounds so made full use of the opportunity. We now live in Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire.

We have 2 children, Izzy 15yr and Harry 12 yr.

Charing Cross - I was addicted to doughnuts and coffee, a regular highlight during lecture breaks in the first 2 years.

The music that reminds me of that time is Enola Gay by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. That was played frequently at the record store in Notting Hill Gate.

TIM BROW

I initially pursued a career in Vascular surgery after obtaining my FRCS: working Brompton, Hillingdon and St Mary’s.

I then switched and retrained in Psychiatry.

I also did an MSc in Forensic psychiatry.

For the last five years I have been working as a Consultant in the acute services in what is now the Priory Hospital Burgess Hill.

I have a wife, a daughter at University and a son coming up to A levels.

I do some medico-legal work. I try to get to the gym. I play a bit of guitar.

SUSAN DEEBANK (BUCK) Life has been good to me in many ways. I have two fantastic children, Charles, 19, who is just about to start an engineering degree and Amelia, age 14. And 29 years on still married to Phil.

We live in Edinburgh and enjoy life here with lots to do and fabulous countryside to enjoy. I still love travelling and can somehow always justify the cost of our next trip. I still like cooking for friends, have an allotment and love films and theatre. Most of all, I love our family time. Living and the kids growing up in Scotland, we have done lots of hill and mountain walking and delighted in the great outdoors. Life is sociable and lots of fun. Like all of us, there have been many ups and some challenges.

I enjoyed my work as a GP in Edinburgh. Now for the bad news-I am steadily and probably inevitably losing my eyesight. I have a portfolio' career of teaching, policy in children's health, PLAB assessor, an appraiser and RCGP International. Basically, anything I can still do.

CXHMS was a great start in medicine, but best of all, I have great friends who have stayed so throughout the 40 years.

As for the future, just live it and love it!

TONY BURGESS

Well how to sum up my career? It’s over would do!

However a little more detail:

Having been commissioned into the RAF at CXHMS I spent most of my career in Norfolk and was Squadron MO to 617 Squadron the Dam Busters. I then became a rural GP still in Norfolk for the rest of my career, outliving or avoiding the GMC to retire in 2016. Highlights? My patients and practice team. The privilege of taking care of friends at the end of their life. As well as GP, I chaired a PCT and CCG. I have two wonderful children, who have coped with the death of their mother Fae (Harding) when so young, so well.

Having discovered cardiac pain is really sore, once fixed, I’m living the dream in highland Perthshire. Hill walking with the dogs and gardening.

Last year tried a new career as a tour guide in a distillery a lot of fun but so much more to do too.

Music from CXHMS days: Spanish Train and Other Stories by Chris De Burgh.

ANDREA BURTON Gosh –not easy to talk about myself!

Certainly doesn’t come naturally.

After qualifying I went through three different career ideas. First, I to become a surgeon, loving being in the theatre, holding retractors and stitching up - soon realised that to become a surgeon would take serious effort and so switched to GP. Three quarters of the way through this I discovered psychiatry. Amazing really, as during student days I was terrified of the patients and the staff. Everyone, including me assumed it was just another phase and that I would once again switch allegiance but no, I stuck with it and apart from a short period of maternity leave (15 years to be precise) here I have remained. I work at the inpatient unit in Chertsey as Associate Specialist/Locum Consultant.

Usual sort of stuff followed over the years – marriage, 3 children. I now plot my retirement, planning to spend my twilight years on the things I love – antique restoration, religious art and my beloved garden. I also hope that one of my children just might get around to producing grandchildren so that I can indulge in bossing everyone around and being a grand old cantankerous matriarch!

Memories of CXH are limited (dementia setting in presumably!) but I do remember the interminable queue to buy coffee in the Reynolds Building between lectures and of getting as many people as possible into the lifts to the lecture theatres.

SOHAIL BUTT

I have been working as a GP in Surrey, living in Staines for the last 25 years, and continue to work part time.

I married Phillippa and we have 3 grown up children. It’s been a good life with the usual ups and downs.

I am really grateful for the opportunities and support that Charing Cross provided to me and the great friendships we made.

I am sorry not to be able to attend the reunion as will be away travelling. If you are in the Staines area and would like to catch up over a coffee do email me.

NESSAN CARSON

I am a partner at CMK Medical Centre, a busy urban practice in Milton Keynes. I also am a GP Board Member at MKCCG leading on Out of Hospital Care, and am a local Appraiser.

My main priority remains my family life. I am married to Sue, a fellow GP who is a constant support and aware of all the issues in Primary Care.

My daughter Emily is a teacher of French + Spanish. My son Luke will have completed his Medical Degree and will be embarking on AFP at Newcastle.

Much as I still enjoy my work, the time pressures are such that I am looking forward to hanging up my stethoscope in a couple of years.

Regarding a song that reminds me of CXH, that has to be Queen, Don’t Stop me now. Always played that at very loud volume at end of exams!

MONICA CHIDGEY I think that I was always destined to become a GP-A Jack of all trades but a master of none!

After qualifying, I had a short sojourn Up North to Dewsbury in West Yorkshire; then surgical job at CXH; followed by an A/E job in Ashford Middlesex.

After that, I went back ‘home’ to Wales to finish my GP training in Merthyr Tydfil.

Apart from a year working in Australia, I have spent the remainder of my working life in South Wales. I’ve been a partner in a practice in Abergavenny for the past 24 years and am hopefully going to retire on my 25th anniversary.

I’ve dabbled a bit in medical politics but have kept away from anything academic (still fearing that someone might discover that I shouldn’t really be here!). I’ve developed an ambivalent attitude to appraisal and revalidation: always having this great desire to put something comical down in my entrees!

I married Christian (Hot Air Ballooning and PR Guru) in 1997; and in 2002 my only child Gabriel was born. So far, I’ve been lucky with my health; I live in a lovely part of the world; I have a healthy happy son; I’ve travelled extensively; I work in a great practice; I’ve had a fulfilling career; and I’ve paid enough pension contributions to be able to retire early.

My good fortune however suffered a major blow in 2018 when my husband died suddenly, leaving me slightly adrift. With the mantra that has sustained me throughout my career: ‘Nothing can be as bad as doing a 1 in 2 in Obs and Gynae in Aberdare!’, I’ve had to dust myself down and get on with life. I’m now for the first time in my professional life working part time; singing in a choir; and actually, going to the gym regularly. I’m looking forward to retiring so I can do more travelling; start doing some significant charity work; catch up with friends on a more regular basis; and possibly even tidy my house.

I look back on my time at Charing Cross with great fondness; and I’m very grateful for the life-long friends that I made during those years It’s been lovely re-connecting with many of you on Social Media and am really excited about meeting everyone at the reunion.

NIGEL CLARK I worked as a GP in Fleet, North Hampshire from 1989 to December 2017. I am now truly enjoying life as a locum, working 3-4 sessions a week, and can see this going on for some years to come. Yes I have finally taken up golf.

My memories are from the beginning and the end. On one of the first night at Inman / Huxley Halls, a final year called 'Rastus' White I believe, picked us up in groups and transported us to The Reynolds for a Bop, standing in the back of his ex-Army lorry. This seemed a 'very wild and crazy thing' to do, and it was a good sign of the social life to come.

And The End, was seeing my name on the degree pass list in 1984. It was over! I'm through!

Personal highlights of the past 35 years have been having a family with Louise, and us getting 3 kids to adulthood relatively unscathed. And they are 3 great people that I am extremely proud of, and really like!

My song would be Dexy's "Come on Eileen". As a poor student, and erratic follower of fashion, I bought some baggy jeans with braces for a fortune in 1980, after their style, which was dungarees really. I remember stomping around to this tune at Bops, somewhat out of control.

And I still do, with an even worse sense of balance with my arthritic knees.

RODDERICK “RODDY” CLARK AND VIVIAN TAN

MARK CLAYTON

Busy but happy GP Partner, Bideford, North Devon for well over quarter of a century!

OMG it still seems like yesterday! On entering Dean Prof Glenister’s office to receive one of my first year Anatomy results “C, monotonously middle of the road Clayton.

I'm sure you could work harder!”

Found an amazing fun team at Bideford Medical Centre that has helped me keep me on the straight and narrow for many years.

Mika and I about to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We have come through a really tough time over the last 2 years, Mika gradually recovering from an awful & frightening brainstem cavernoma haemorrhage.

Two fortunately healthy ‘children’ Ashleigh now 27yrs (Dyson, Bristol) & Ross 21yrs (hoping to be accepted at Sandhurst).

Been lucky to avoid any serious health issues of my own, apart from the usual aches and crakes.

Finally cracked a Fed-like single handed topspin backhand, days of singles matches have long passed, now sticking with doubles! Gardening, bit of cricket & golf, Exeter Chiefs, walking the dog on the beach- ‘wind in my hair, sand between my toes’.

Perfect Day, Lou Reed (Tim Coker, summer of '80, next door room to me, Huxley basement)

TIM COKER

After a brief period in Pontefract, I headed south to Stratford on Avon thinking it was near the Cotswolds. A turbulent time as a GP trainee left me unclear what to do, so I tried anaesthetics (which I really enjoyed but I missed going home at night) and after spending nearly a year in Malawi deciding on what to do, I joined a Warwickshire GP surgery.

Ten years later, after another period of assessment (in St Lucia this time, taking the children Jacob and Georgia) I started my own surgery nearby with my GP wife, Grania, and have thoroughly enjoyed myself ever since spending the last 16 years building it up with her. The work, the politics and the people make it the (equal) best decision I ever made.

When I think of Charing Cross I think of my dissection table and the haircuts by the onsite barber when he had a moment between his pubic shaves.

HARRIET TELFORD (NÉE COLLINS) 1 husband, 4 children, 3 careers.

I enjoyed tennis league and OTC at CX, so I joined up as an Army medical cadet in 3rd year. After house jobs and casualty 6 years in the RAMC followed: Germany for 2 years, playing lots of tennis, met husband, completed GP training eventually in UK & a stint in Gulf War 1.

Enthusiasm of coming back safely resulted in daughter number 1, leaving the Army and starting as GP locum, then assistant, then partner in rural Somerset when they thought I’d stopped at 2 babies! After 4th child arrived started Sports & Exercise Medicine Diploma providing the platform to start a parallel career in Sport/ MSK. A season ticket in personal orthopaedic injuries allowed periods of reflection and after one took the decision to take the plunge out of GP into full time MSK/SEM. 13 years later I have been to most countries in Europe, several in South America/North America and South East Asia with Sport working with many top performing teams.

Currently working in professional rugby at Bristol Bears, team doctor at The FA WU18s, Yeovil Town FC, Faculty Appraiser as well as NHS MSK provider. There is never a dull day so no plans for retirement for me yet.

Pete is planning for wind down to retirement in due course but running ultras and dog walking to keep himself sane in the meantime.

The children are grown up: 1 vet, 1 entrepreneur/business owner, 1 doctor to be next year and 1 law student. We are well covered for home grown advice in our dotage and very proud parents – one day they may even appreciate us.

ALISON COOK

After working as a GP in Cornwall and then Lincolnshire I relocated in 2002 as a trailing spouse to Hong Kong. There I worked as a medical writer before joining a private psychology practice.

I then undertook training with the British Psychological Society and now work in the assessment department at the same private practice, conducting psychoeducational assessments and Child Custody Evaluations for the Family Court in Hong Kong.

A memory from my first clinical year at CXHMS relates to when we were learning to take a clinical history and my (male) buddy earnestly asked an eighty-year-old inpatient, “And how are your periods?”

A personal highlight is raising four girls as a single parent in Hong Kong.

Although not strictly whilst at medical school, The Beverley Hills Cop soundtrack will always remind me of the 10 o’clock car dash from the junior doctors’ residence at the West Middlesex Hospital to sup a pint before closing.

STEVE COOKE AND CAROLINE (OTTIE) (NEE HEGGS)

After various jobs in London and the Midlands we have been living in Leicestershire for the last 20 + years where Steve has worked as a GP in a rural practice and Ottie as a Palliative Medicine consultant in the acute hospitals and Leicestershire hospice.

Since the last reunion in 2004 we have had a fourth child after what turned out to be a very expensive holiday in America!

On the whole we both enjoy working but some of the recent changes and expectations have been challenging and thoughts of retirement are beginning to creep in.

We have dogs and, thanks to our youngest daughter, recently a horse and enjoy our life outside medicine as much as possible.

Steve’s best memories of Charing Cross were the social life, living in houses in Acton and Turnham Green, skiing holidays organized by Simon Wallace and going out with Ottie (32nd wedding anniversary coming up!).

Ottie’s best memories were being with Steve and the crowd in Acton and Turnham Green, Andy Cope wandering around sucking an oboe reed and the ‘Friday night bops’ with sticky floor!

Lots of highlights but the best were our wedding and the day our first child was born.

Music – driving the Hillman Imp singing to ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles and Elton John songs

ANDREW COPE

Current status: Arthritis Research UK Professor of Rheumatology, King’s College London. Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Career highlights: Postdoc at Stanford University, California; endowed chair at King’s, becoming Head of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases; conceiving and leading the first ever multi-centre rheumatoid arthritis prevention trial.

Personal highlights: marrying a General’s daughter in St Paul’s Cathedral, seeing my two daughters growing up to become beautiful women; the rewards of humanitarian work; those “bucket list” holidays with the family.

Mid-life crisis: retail moments - electric keyboard, and then a grand piano; being offered a seat on the tube by a 40 year old woman (ok – so I had just finished a tough ward round).

Happiest memories of CXH: Friday night bops, nurses, banter in the 9th floor lecture theatre, goofing off lectures to go and play music gigs, house job at CXH, more nurses, my bezzies.

Favourite music track that reminds me of CXH: “Walk between the raindrops” by Donald Fagen, from the album Nightfly.

NIAMH CORDUFF

When doing A and E at Luton and Dunstable as an SHO I was sent to Mount Vernon for a few weeks to experience and learn a little about plastic surgery. I was hooked and started down a long road towards that speciality, supported by my bosses at CXH. The primary did not come easy, but I persevered and eventually got through. As a junior registrar at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital and Whiston Hospital in Liverpool I met my husband, an anaesthetist Tony. Problem was he was Australian and one of us had to move; needless to say the weather won out and I emigrated to Australia in 1988.

Luckily for me my boss in Liverpool was supportive (or wanted to get rid of me) and introduced me to Prof Ian Taylor in Melbourne. I subsequently got into the Australian plastics training program and managed to pass the exams first go! We both got positions in Geelong (the second city in Victoria) and settled down there living by the beach in a small town on the Great Ocean Road, for any of you who might know it. We had 2 beautiful girls, Siobhan and Orlaith now 18 and 24 years.

I was a consultant in public and private practice and became president of the Australasian society plastic surgeons in 2008, (never lost the gift of the gab!) In 2013 had a few health issues which meant I ultimately had to give away surgery and change career direction. I was lucky that I was offered consulting and training roles with 2 medical companies! It was the cloud with the silver lining as I now travel (at the pointy end of the plane) and lecture internationally, am involved in some really fascinating research and sit on Medical Advisory Boards for both companies; Motiva breast implants and Merz pharmaceuticals and no oncall. I am very lucky that I have an incredibly close family who have supported me throughout my career and ups and downs.

LIZ SHERWOOD (NÉE CRIAG)

I’m still a GP in Bournemouth/Poole since 1991. The practice has got bigger over the years to 23000 patients, and grown to 15 partners – I work half time, and am now the oldest!

I met my husband Geoff while working as a chalet girl in Zermatt in 1989, and our 4 sons are William 24, James 22, Edward 19 and Richard 15. William’s a final year medical student at Southampton, and Edward is going to start it in Bristol in September, while James is a businessman!

We still race our Dart 18 catamaran (since 1987) and Geoff has acquired a preoccupation with cycling and all things lycra; 2 years ago he cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats with the boys, while I drove the motorhome.

Remember the sticky floor in the Reynolds building on Bop nights!

A highlight at Charing Cross was going to India with Nia Edwards for our elective.

We trekked on a poorly elephant with an URTI, which fired green ping pong size snot balls at us!

ANDY DICK It has been such fun all along. Now ended up with two jobs as Director of UCL -Institute of Ophthalmology, whilst continuing with role as Professor at University of Bristol.

Not sure either boss knows where I am! I can’t quite believe 40 years have passed by since entering med school and then leaving med school 6 years later. So here I am…… a. What did you end up doing?

Life has been fruitful, fun and largely unplanned and I would do the same again. I ended up being an academic ophthalmologist, despite slightly circuitous route through medicine. b. Where did you end up doing it?

The route from London to Aberdeen to Sydney to Aberdeen to Bristol and now Bristol and London as two jobs. c. A memory from your time at CXH So many, it was a great time but the highlight I still can’t believe is undoubtedly the final year results and ritual dive into the CXH pond out front. d. Personal highlights of the last 35 years Family - Lindsey and two wonderful children. Combined with the richness of academic life, travel and life in Australia, it has been and still remains wonderful. e. Tell us a song or piece of music that reminds you of the CXH years Close call – so can I have two please as both are very fond and vivid memories Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners.

LOUISE DUBRAS

Louise Dubras ( have had other names, graduated with one that reflected an early flawed marriage decision, now back and proud with Dubras and also Mrs Walker) Ended up as a GP in Derry-Londonderry and a Professor of Medical Education and Foundation Dean of a new medical school at Ulster University ( no idea how)

Memory from CXHMS- has to be the Rag Ball from first year- with the funfair on the car park. Sadly lots of my latter years are mired in that fateful love affair and marriage ……so I remember that rather the time with you all. Genuinely not sure how I even graduated- learnt medicine somehow but no idea how!

Highlights of the last 35 years- a member of the crew of Maiden and two Atlantic crossings- married to Duncan- bringing up three amazing children, Leon, Ella and Alexandra, my friendships from medical school which have endured Song or music- choice of 3: Beethoven 9th symphony cos Chris Ogden woke me up playing it at about 2am when we lived in Huxley hall – I thought I was dreaming.

Shostakovich piano concerto no 2 cos Andy Cope gave me a recording of it when I was sad and it always makes me feel better- but really- there’s only one- Martha and the Muffins “Echo Beach” ( sorry David Baldwin)

MARIA DUDEK

I have continued to work as Consultant in Emergency Medicine (Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading) - finally reducing some hours 2 years ago in order to spend more time with family and ease up on the huge and ever increasing demands of this specialty!

I have finally found time to attend painting courses and have created a few 'masterpieces', taken up regular pilates and play badminton.

Zofia has graduated in Finance and Accountancy from University of Nottingham and after a gap year, Emilia will be starting her degree this year at the same Uni. Our girls inspire and motivate us every day and our bond and love holds no bounds. I am disbelieving of their strengths and how they challenge us to be better and stronger in love and as a family.

As the next chapter of our lives approaches, we contemplate new journeys and adventures.

Hope life is treating you all kindly with deserved peace and happiness and the love of family and friends to sustain you.'

NIA EDWARDS AND MIKE PLANT

Nia Edwards and Michael Plant In 1986, during medical SHO jobs in Watford, romance blossomed with fellow CXHMS student, Nia Edwards.

In 1993, we were married in a tiny chapel on the banks of the Menai Straits in North Wales and went on to have three children: Dafydd (24) a junior doctor, Ffion (23) a Geography graduate working in social enterprise and Tomos (19) a second year medical student.

After a series of training jobs, extending from London via Manchester, Stoke on Trent and Cardiff , we have now been settled in Stokesley, North Yorkshire for the past 20 years.

Nia’s story I currently work as a part-time Geriatrician and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. My roles as RCP College Tutor, PACES examiner, undergraduate clinical lecturer and interviewer for Newcastle Medical School keep me out of mischief!

I have recently taken up the saxophone – and eventually hope to be good enough to join a swing band.

Mike and I enjoy regular walks/ cycles on the North York Moors and visit North Wales as often as we can.

I continue to cycle regularly with a group of equally middle aged ladies.

In a moment of madness I agreed to participate in a 46‑mile Prudential Ride London bike ride with Ffion - and I am currently “in training!”

Long one gone is the MG sports car of my youth - now replaced by a people carrier!

Michael’s story I moved to Charing Cross from Cambridge in 1981: thank you all for the warm welcome which I received.

After a wide range of registrar posts, including diabetes, endocrinology, renal and transplant medicine, rheumatology and a one-year sideways move into radiology, I decided on Rheumatology as a career.

I completed an MD at Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre and now work as Rheumatologist and Clinical Director at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. I have a number of other jobs that more than fill the week!

I am Editorial Advisor for “Prescriber” and I help to set questions for the MRCP exam.

For the last three years I have been the regional chair for the British Society of Rheumatology.

Currently I am involved in development of the Rheumatology services across the Tees Valley.

In between jobs, I took a break and went on a wilderness expedition in Canada canoeing down the Missinaibi River as far as the Hudson Bay. A knee operation forced me to stop running and triathlons- and therefore have been playing more tennis. I am currently captain of the Stokesley first team – sounds grand…. but there is only one team!

Hopefully there are new challenges ahead: I have no thoughts of retirement as yet, and am looking forward to meeting old friends at the reunion.

ALISON ELLIOTT

The photo is of my family on holiday in Uganda about 4 years ago.

From left to right in front (main) row – my granddaughter (Onella), me, niece (Esther) daughter-in-law (Gloria), my mum (aka Granny), my son (Tom), my daughter (Rachel). Behind, my brother (Chris), sister-in-law (Heather) and other niece (Alice). The elephant is not real!!

SHO and registrar in General Medicine in Aberdeen – a wonderful return to Scotland, evenings kayaking on the River Dee, and lots of fun on the hills and rivers of the North East. A career in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Three and a half years working in Zambia on HIV and tuberculosis. An interlude in Colorado (more hills and rivers) then back to Africa, to Uganda where I have been ever since at the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit. Many wonderful African friends, but quite a few of whom have passed away, including the original parents of my children Tom (from Zambia) and Rachel (from Uganda). Tom married Gloria in 2012, and they have a little girl, my granddaughter, Nella. They live in Zambia. Rachel has just finished University in Kenya. We had a wonderful family Christmas here in Uganda a few years ago, with my Mum, brother, sister in law, two nieces, Tom, Gloria, Nella and Rachel (see picture).

I can’t remember which one, but I always think of Maggie Attwood when I hear Brahms symphonies. We went and heard one together at an open air concert on Hampstead Heath.

SUE ELTON After CXHMS I did my GP VTS at the West Middlesex then went to Africa for 9 months as a receptionist/medical officer in a safari camp. Coming back, I realised I didn’t want to stay in London permanently, and a house with a garden was essential, so, shut my eyes and stuck a pin in the map which landed in Leeds. Bizarrely I actually got offered a job in a partnership in Bramley where I spent 26 years.

My second husband managed to convince me it was a good idea to get married again and we have been together now for 25 very happy years. The garden is still a work in progress and is a constant joy. At the age of 55 I retired from partnership and continued as an appraiser. Not feeling nearly as old as I expected to as a pensioner I also continued as a locum, which gave me a chance to help care for my parents during my father’s final years. Now I’m working as a salaried GP and am the Clinical Lead for Yorkshire and the Humber GP Health scheme. I still enjoy music, travel, reading and cooking and spending time with friends and family. Hoping everyone is well and happy and sending very best wishes to you all.

Best wishes Sue A favourite memory of CXHMS was all the discos , music and dancing, and how everyone hit the floor when “Tainted Love” started playing. Good times!

KATIE FROOMBERG

I've had a varied time in the last 35 years – I did my GP training in Salisbury and settled there as a GP partner, bringing up 2 sons and restoring a cottage just outside the city. I changed to a portfolio career in 2005 following several years of orthopaedic leg surgery and related complications.

I am still based in Salisbury and currently work as a GP locum, GP appraiser, have a private acupuncture clinic, and I teach consultation skills at Bristol medical school.

Memories of CXH are enjoyable times playing the cello in the ULU orchestra (including playing in the Queen Elizabeth Hall), getting very cold coxing the CXH rowing 8, as well as evenings in the bar with Mr Reynolds, the drinking of a yard of ale and coming home to Theresa Allain frying black pudding for breakfast!

I remarried in 2010.Andy and I spend as much time travelling as possible -walking, mountaineering, rock climbing and learning Spanish (mainly in South America).

Main highlight was climbing a 5300m peak in Peru and more recently rock climbing in Argentina I still play the cello in the City of Southampton Orchestra and love cooking especially Indian food!

NEIL GREENWAY

After house jobs I completed my BDS at UCH dental school. Following a brief spell of hospital jobs I switched to general dental practice with a part-time hospital attachment for 14 years carrying out prosthetics with and without implants. I now run a small largely private 2 surgery practice in Wimborne Dorset which I have had for 25 years.

Dorset is a beautiful county to have ended up in as I try to reconcile the work/life balance. No I do not sail, even though we live so near to Poole Harbour!

Cherished memory of CXH were the fishing trips mainly to Poole itself. More unproductive days fishing could hardly be imagined However the shades of colour that sea sickness could induce were sights I will not quickly forget.

Personal highlight professionally is simply that most of my clientele have stuck with me for those 25 years, a loyalty that I hope I have reciprocated. Family though has given me the greatest personal satisfaction. My daughter (Charlotte 25) is now in Australia and a son ( Harry 23) soon to leave home too. 30th wedding anniversary to Melanie this year. I still play squash and so grateful that my both squash induced cruciate ligament repairs are holding up. Knee replacements next!

Music memory has to be Dire Straits, particularly Telegraph Road or Love over Gold .

Background music for the many hours of revision! Neil

JOHN HARRISON

Career started in Internal medicine in London, St Stevens, CX and then St Thomas's for research.

Left to ski for a season, and returned to General Practice, now based in Oxon and Northants. Set up and chair provider organisation (PML) which also acts as the Federation for much of Northants and Oxfordshire.

Other business interests including Occupational Health, and Pharmacy, and still do some endoscopy. Still working full time but looking toward the end of next year for a change. Married, 3 children.

Interests, anything mountain or sea.

Memory from CX," Hotsperms�

JILL GOODING (NÉE HEAD)

After medical school and Gp training I spent 3 years working as a civilian GP with the army , while also a TA medical officer. I then had a long period out of medicine , while our 3 children were very small.

I then spent several years as a specialty doctor in palliative care at our local hospice, then a bit of non clinical stuff and am now working on the frailty team in a DGH Highlights over last 35 years all outside medicine with family and being a mum definitely best job in the world.

Sorry I cant be there on the night hope you all have a wonderful evening

Jill x

GILLIAN HESKETH (SHAMBROOK)

Looking at my final year book I don’t think I’ve changed that much– I still tutt and squeak! I still have to” think” at stressful times. I still make a good cup of tea. I seem to have stuck with the hair cut- there have been variations over the 40 years honest!!

I definitely don’t blush—as much!!

I have been working part-time in GP since settling in North Wales and now as a partner at Bodnant Medical Centre in Bangor. We live on Anglesey overlooking the Menai Straits and Snowdonia mountains. I had a roundabout route to GP which worked out very well for me and I am still happy to continue for a few more years.

Married for 30 years now to Tony . Lucky to have 3 grown up kids starting their own adventures and still revolving through the house!

Tony and I are planning our escape in a camper van for 2 � plus dog Memories of CXHMS -transforming a sheet into a green toga ; living off pot-noodles; coming back to find my in-mug water heater still on and the mug glowing; SOLiDARNOSC; my Acton lane family; Viva nerves; Laughing at antics such as squirting passersby with the screen wash on way back from Cobham in the Minibus; rice pudding on the ceiling; friends who helped me stay sane through the course and house jobs! Love you all x Music has to be Adam and the Ants ‘Stand and Deliver’

JONATHAN HILDEBRAND

Obituary BMJ 2016 ‘After qualifying Jonathan Hildebrand became a GP before pursuing his passion for upstream working and specialising in public health.

He became a member of the Faculty of Public Health in 1997. Jonathan started his public health career in Portsmouth in 1998 before moving to a series of jobs in Surrey and then south west London.

He was instrumental in setting up the London branch of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and became the association’s joint vice chair in 2014. He was also the director of public health for the NHS South West London cluster from 2011 to 2013.

Cherished and admired by colleagues, Jonathan was caring, kind, and well known for his sense of humour and keen mind. Passionate about helping others, he was a mentor for public health professionals in London and the south east, and he spearheaded many new programmes in Kingston, including championing the relocation scheme for vulnerable Syrian nationals.

Jonathan leaves his wife, Sheena, and their two sons, David Hasan and Ben Imran.

Director of public health Kingston upon Thames (b 1961; q Charing Cross Hospital Medical School 1984; MFPH), died suddenly on 30 November 2016’

SUE HIRST Living in Calgary, Canada 40 minutes drive from The Rockies.

This is a photo of Arthur (my prem baby) and I at Sunshine Ski Resort in the summer. I had breast cancer when pregnant with him and am very happy to still be here and enjoying life.

Next is a photo of my 3 boys, Arthur (19), Phil (GP - still working but glad to be out of the NHS!) and William (25). I did a Neurology Residency in Canada and developed a major interest in Headaches and Facial Pain, but have long since retired. It was a great career but I have more fun not working!

Final photo shows a view from my kitchen. I love the snow and those exhilarating Albertan winter skies.

I am really sorry not to be with you all at the reunion.

Have a wonderful time and if anyone wants to make contact my email I would love to hear from you.

MICHAEL HOGARTH

I‘ve been a GP at Harefield for 28 years though now part time. I am also a speciality Dr in dermatology at Mt Vernon Hospital. I was a GP trainer for 15 years.

I remember the Summer Ball of 1980 when a group of us travelled by tube to the Reynolds but I realised, halfway, that I had forgotten my ticket so turned around at Gloucester Rd; I was dressed as Prince Hal from Henry IV (think purple tights and a sort of orange top) and as I stepped into a crowded lift - it went very quiet!

“I want to break free“ heralded the build-up to finals; it reverberated in my head as I cycled home past the Blue Anchor, the Ship , the Dove where EVERYONE but me (and you ) was enjoying the summer evenings properly.

Thank God for many highlights: getting married, seeing Yosemite National Park, Iceland’s waterfalls, a study tour of Israel and Jordan (Petra is awesome), singing a solo ‘Bring him Home’ to a large party in my church.

RICHARD “BUSTER” HOLMAN After qualifying I became a bit of a fixture at the West Mid, completing both my house jobs there and then gaining a place on the GP training scheme with 3 years as an SHO, including a bizarre 6 months working with Dr Lamb.

My training completed (MRCGP first attempt!), I spent two happy years working as a locum throughout West London as well as honing my tennis skills at a local club. I was a founder member of one of the first GP locum groups. Towards the end of this time I met the lovely Ruth, a physiotherapist.

We soon decided to escape from the noise and fumes and headed to North Devon where I became a partner at a very traditional practice – 1 in 3 full on call, no mobile phones, virtually no computers, converted house in Barnstaple. By the time I retired as senior partner last year the practice was 3 times the size, working at the cutting edge of GP from a purpose-built surgery.

My “young practitioner” group of 9 still meets regularly and includes Mark Clayton and Bob Bunney(CX’76).

My proudest achievements include: raising my four happy, fun children with Ruth; masterminding the design of the new surgery; surviving a career in GP relatively intact, having taught medical students throughout.

Memories of CX days include stage managing numerous reviews and plays, not always passing exams and the Reynolds building in all its guises.

Any early songs by The Blues Band rekindle many CX memories.

KEITH HOPCROFT 1.Attached – a pic of me brushing the cobwebs off the front porch of the health centre prior to a CQC visit – this is what our profession has been reduced to.

2. Send any photographs you may have kept from our medical school days Sorry!

3. Send a mini biography of about 150 words that includes answers to the following questions: a. What did you end up doing?

Being a GP. That sounds pretty boring, because it is.

What a tragic waste of a life. I often think I should have made better use of my time by pursuing my love of window-cleaning (basement flats only) which was my medical school summer-job.

Also I ended up being a sort-of-journalist, which is marginally more interesting, I wrote some books and I did one spot as a performance poet (‘Ode to toilet,’ since you ask). b. Where did you end up doing it?

GP: sunny Essex Journalism: I think I hold the record for doing the greatest number of simultaneous blogs/columns (Pulse, the Sun, the Times, Sky at Night magazine, Chemist and Druggist and Women’s Institute magazine) though I have done no research to support that assertion. But that’s how journalism seems to work.

Performance poetry: BMA revue on a stage in London somewhere. c. A memory from your time at CXH Just one? So I can’t have Buster vomiting out of a cab window, the chariot race or David Baldwin threatening to urinate on our freshly-laid-out final cut-and-paste proofs of Speculum magazine in a fit of artistic pique? OK then, I’ll plump for a stocking-headed Kev Blewett pretending to shoot a lecturer. d. Personal highlights of the last 35 years Blimey. Won’t this turn into a 35 year version of one of those awful Christmas cards where people give you the highlights of their, and their progeny’s year (exempt from this criticism are any from friends who happen to be reading this, actually yours was very interesting)? Hmmmm. No matter how momentous, emotional or meaningful the event, I can say without one iota of doubt that the highlight that really did it for me was becoming CXHMS table football champion in (I think) 1983.

Developing my expertise was a superb use of biochemistry lectures, everything else pales into insignificance and my residual prowess at this noble sport is the only remaining thing about me that impresses my two sons.

4. Tell us a song or piece of music that reminds you of the CXH years Perfect Day by Lou Reed. Someone, I forget who, used to play it in the halls of residence at ear bleeding decibels. It consistently ruined my day.

BEVERLEY STRAUGHAN (NÉE HOPWOOD) I have finally managed to locate a picture of me. This one was taken last October when we went on a cycling tour of Sri Lanka because I wanted to see if I recognised it 35 years after going to Kandy on my elective with Gill Hesketh. It had changed beyond all recognition- much as we all have in the passing of years.

I am still with husband no 1 -Steve Straughan. He has now retired from being a GP and I am planning to cut my hours next year to spoil his complete freedom.

I am currently working in Exeter in Anaesthetics and Chronic Pain Management and still enjoy my job but need to free up more time for myself and doing a bit of babysitting for my 2 grandsons.

Sorry to miss the reunion, but I hope you are all well.

JANE HOWARD

Trained in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and a Consultant at CXH for 6years before moving to Leeds General Infirmary. I seem to be doing more and more ICU as time goes on. I have been heavily involved in postgrad training College Tutor, Training Programme Director for Foundation FY1 then for ICM, on the Training Committee at the Faculty of ICM. Moved up North then got divorced but have a wonderful daughter who has just finished her first year in Edinburgh - not medicine!

Love cooking, gardening, theatre, music and would love a second career, something arty this time- we’ll see!

As for the song it has to be ‘Come on Eileen’ Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

So many fabulous memories from CXH - but who did hang that bottle of whiskey on the drip stand for the ward round- genius if not risqué!

JUNO JESUTHASON

Leave the M25 and drive up the A12 till you hit the first roundabout and you will have arrived in Ipswich, Suffolk - after 70 miles!

I remember when Sarah and I used to make this journey braking at every bend, but muscle memory seems to kick in nowadays and the journeys are as smooth as silk.

I am still a GP in Ipswich but have jettisoned the course organiser role and replaced it with the CCG one day a week.

I indulge my life-long passion for horse racing by continuing to be one of the course doctors at Newmarket.

Sophie and Nicole are still our kids but have blossomed into their 20s or twenteens as they accurately refer to themselves. Yes, they are still at home and we still hunger for empty nest syndrome.

Suffolk is not as flat as people think

SURJIT KAILEY

Family picture few yrs ago Going from right to left of picture Amrik 27yrs Lakhbir Myself Balrik 30yrs and Benita 28yrs Senior partner in same practice for last 30yrs (NORTHUMBERLAND HEATH MED.CTR) Recent enjoyed trekking adventures to Machu Pichu in Peru climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and recently did Everest Base Camp in Nepal Now looking forward to retirement and kids to settle down

DAVE KING

I did my GP training in Suffolk and then worked for 27 years ! In a semi rural practice near Ipswich. Anna and I separated in 2000 but we have 2 now grown up offspring- Chris and Rosie.

Neither went into medicine. I also have 2 more children Harry and Eleanor now aged 12 and 11.

I love being outdoors so I play golf a lot. I also enjoy tennis swimming and cycling and bit of gardening.

My best memory of Charing Cross is the football and a big hello to all my ex team mates.

My worst memory is the feeling of anxiety when the all too frequent exams came around !

PEKE-YAN KON

I'm married with 2 children. I retired in 2016 as Consultant Psychiatrist in Darlington. I enjoyed clinical work and training juniors.

Since retiring, I live partly in Durham and partly in Malaysia.

Of course, I now have time to enjoy lots of traveling and my hobbies cooking and cycling.

PAUL KUZMIN

Charing Cross brings back especially good memories of anatomy (Jeanie Ross), pharmacology (Dr Laity putting various medications up our noses in one experiment) and biochemistry lectures and excellent training on the wards. Student life was great, albeit I was not in halls and I remember discos in the Reynolds Building (Mike Morgan). Memorable song; Blondie “Atomic�.

I really benefitted from the Roehampton GP Vocational Training Scheme after which I joined Southview Medical Practice, Woking in 1989. Ugly building but wonderful GP colleagues and great staff. I developed a niche interest in GP IT which became practically a hobby. Practice list has grown from 6400 to 10600. In 1997 we built a spacious branch surgery recently further extended.

We are lucky to have good, close friends from Charing Cross days. We have a son and daughter, a dog and a cat. I am retiring from being a GP in September but intend to stay on as an IT Consultant for a few months.

SIMON LAM A career characterised by serendipity and multiple changes of direction: No circuit jobs after qualifying but was fortunately appointed House Surgeon to John Pendower in Croydon where I met my future wife.

I stayed on in Croydon for my medical house job then embarked on a career in paediatrics (Kingston, UCH, Brompton). Big mistake, but MRCP a suitable exit point.

Demonstrator in anatomy at the London then Ophthalmology at the London and Moorfields followed by the Western Ophthalmic. FRCS a good exit from the NHS. After a year in Saskatoon (where?) finished my Canadian ophthalmology training in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Worked in Hong Kong, then to Toronto for fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery before landing a dream job in Vancouver.

Couldn’t have planned it better.

Currently specialist in medical and surgical retina and Clinical Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia.

Most memories from CXH unmentionable, so a rather tame one is when half of my firm played hooky and piled into my tiny Ford Fiesta for a day trip to France.

Personal highlights: wonderful wife, 3 kids (none medical), moved house 10 times in less than 10 years but now in the same house for 20, a job which is still wonderful after more than 20 years, became Oxford student late in life.

“I want to break free” by Queen was released towards the end of my time at CXHMS. After 6 years, I was ready to move on.

CLARE LAMB

Sorry not to be at the reunion. I will be away on our annual motor-bike holiday in Northern Spain.

In 1995 I moved to North Wales with my husband Chris and our 3 children. I worked as a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist in Merseyside for 7 years, then as an inpatient and forensic adolescent psychiatrist in North Wales until 2016.

Deirdre, Kate, Laura, Phil, Jo and I kept in close contact, and Deirdre’s death in 2015 continues to have a massive impact on us.

Since 2016 I have been commuting from North Wales to work 3 days a week in London as the consultant psychiatrist in an infant mental health team - so I have a base back in the city, and I get to see “the girls” more often.

I hope the reunion goes well.

ANDREW LARKWORTHY

After leaving CXHMS and finishing house jobs I joined the GP training scheme in Bedford and married Wendy in 1986.

I became a GP partner in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire in 1988 and Jonathan and Simon came along in 1990 and 1991. I was a GP trainer until 2002, when I took a two-year part-time sabbatical to do a Masters Degree in Health Informatics and then worked for the local PCT and the NHS helping develop GP IT systems.

I changed practices to a practice in nearby Watford a few years ago, where I have been very happy. We merged to become a 30,000 + patient practice, since when I have been gradually reducing my commitment and will retire from partnership at the end of June.

Personal highlights have included (of course‌.) my wedding and the joy of having two children, as well as completing my Masters degree in 2004.

Recently we have bought an apartment in an old mill in the Peak District, and this has been the best decision we have made for years, and we spend many weekends there with a view to doing a lot more walking in retirement.

Tell us a song or piece of music that reminds you of the CXH years tricky – lets say any song from the Rocky Horror Show

KENRIC LI

I am enjoying my life as a GP local to CXH, having never ventured far away from CXHMS and Inman Hall, and in fact live and work in between these two old haunts in Kensington.

Some years ago I managed to shake off the restraints of NHS handcuffs to work more independently as a family doctor.

Married to Erica, after we had 3 sons, each of whom must have been indirectly influenced as there are no medics in the offing, despite a wonderful medical mother.

Fortunately, my parents are well, as are my three sisters and brother with their families and we all live within a mile of each other, which has its pros and cons!

Fondest musical memories were based around the top hits for our entry in 1979 Because " I had a dream" not "having liked Mondays" before entering The Cross around "September" otherwise I would have been "Up the junction" in another career.

It was with "Bright Eyes" that I found "Boogie Wonderland" which led to the "Good Times" and I felt "Ain't no stopping us now" and the "Good Times" just got better.

Dear friends thank you for the "Wonderful Life" memories!

JASON LIM

After leaving Charing Cross, I embarked on a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. I obtained my MRCOG in 1990 and returned to Malaysia in 1992.

In 1994, I married Rachel who was my SHO when I was a registrar in St. Bartholomew's Hospital. We have two children, Daniel and Elizabeth.

In Malaysia, I worked in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur for several years before I left at the end of 1999 to join Sunway Medical Centre, a private medical centre. I remain at this hospital to date and am still actively practising obstetrics and gynaecology.

I still have vivid memories of our first venesection experience.

CHRISTOPHER LIU 40 years on! I still remember moving into Inman Hall and living in a room with a shower in the cupboard. Next door was Jason Lim. I remember the bogus lectures of Laycock on NIFFL and PIFFL systems.

And Dr Palfrey! Professor Glenister advising students to study five hours every evening. I never did any study but worried five hours every evening five days a week. I discovered coffee when cramming for our histology exam. The allocated time was one chapter of Junqueira per hour.

Unfortunately coffee stopped working by about 3 am. Fortunately it was mighty difficult to fail undergraduate medical exams then as it is now.

Within weeks of start of term, Victor Abdullah and I invested in a K-reg Ford Capri. It was a bad purchase. It broke down within days on St. Dunstan’s Road outside the Reynolds Building whilst I gave a lift to the three Chinese girls Wendy Wong (my girlfriend for a while), Miriam Tao and Peke Yan Kon. The girls and Victor got down to push the car whilst our lecturers, readers and Dean watched. What an embarrassment!

So I muddled along and intercalated, but still felt more bonded to my original year.

I feel sad a few of us had already departed. Young Cullinan, Margaret Attwood, June Lee and now Barbara Zawisa. Yet out of the 120 or so in our year, I do not actually remember the names of many and the day of reunion will be another embarrassment for me.

A desire to become an ophthalmologist formed when I was aged 13, the time I became shortsighted. I did house jobs for Guz and Walton. Guz sacked me for not having filed blood results. Ward clerk Moira helped me and I got reinstated the same day.

That was the time I had my hair dyed streaky red. I thought that was my only chance to do something different. It was then or never so I did it. The only person who did not pass a comment was Guz, bless him!

My late father was diagnosed with kidney cancer (renal pelvis) before I qualified in 1985 but I did not find out until after I completed finals and had a holiday in Scotland. His conditioned deteriorated so I did my second house job in Hong Kong, followed by Anatomy Lectureship when I did Australian Part 1. I learnt ophthalmology at Charing Cross (10 North), Western Ophthalmic (Mary’s), Moorfields, Addenbrooke’s, West Norwich and a spell in Rome where I learnt osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) surgery. Job applications were numerous, like close to a dozen before I got my SR post in Cambridge and a similar number before I got appointed as consultant in Brighton in 1995.

I started in Brighton on 1st January 1996 and continued my lens epithelial cell research in Norwich one day a week for a couple of years. Twenty years later, I am about to submit my MD thesis! I have also registered with my medical school in Brighton where I am Honorary Clinical Professor for a PhD by publications of which I have over 200. My next birthday will see me turn 60 and I want to devote my remaining years of professional life to making bilateral same day cataract surgery routine, non-taboo and accepted, and developing keratoprosthetic devices (artificial corneae).

I have been president of MCLOSA, BSRS, SOS and am President Elect of the Brighton and Sussex Medico-Chirurgical Society for 2020. I have also been Honorary Secretary of UKISCRS and the Brighton Division of the BMA, in addition to having served two terms (six years) in Council of the RCOphth and three years in their Board of Trustees.

2018 was a year of accolades when I was showered with an FRCSEd, an FRCP and was apponted OBE.

Well there you are, now a grey haired man and still happily married to Vivienne whom I met when an SR at Addenbrooke’s. We have three children who are kind of grown up.

Sophia is doing an MMus degree in piano performance at the Royal College of Music, having done an undergraduate degree in French, Arabic and Hebrew. George did a Pharmacology degree and is now a medical student at the new Anglia Ruskin School of Medicine in Chelmsford. Henry is at Eton, and is waiting for his GCSE results. He wants to become a vet. The whole family is musical.

What song reminds me of my days at Charing Cross? My days at Charing Cross was a blur. I wish I had come out of my shell and really enjoyed life and properly experienced medical school. But in my blur, I do remembers songs like Come on Eileen, Take on Me and the likes.

CATHERINE LLOYD

After leaving CX, I specialised in neurology, doing a rotation in SE London, and an MD on imaging in MND - but I was never cut out to be an academic! I spent a happy but challenging year In Uganda at Makarere University & Mulago Hospital. I ended up with a Consultant job is at King’s and Tunbridge Wells, where I still am – surviving by being part-time, but enjoy it still.

I am married to Nigel, also a neurologist -but an academic. We have one gorgeous daughter Beth, who is 13, and a very special black Labrador called Charlie. I have 4 step-children and 7 grand-children, so life can be chaotic and a lot of juggling. We live in Robertsbridge, East Sussex in a crazy 12th century Abbey, surrounded by fields. I still hill walk, when I can, travel (especially East Africa), concerts, theatres, reading and friends.

I have many fond memories of CX – especially the Mountaineering Club, Summer Balls - doing the catering, playing tennis on Friday afternoons and friends!

JANET LLOYD I have been lucky to find a speciality that I have really loved with all the variety of chronic disease management from diabetes as well as the diagnostic sleuthing and real possibility of curative treatment from endocrinology. As a DGH kinda gal my career overall has been fairly low-key but I have enjoyed working with some really lovely teams in close -knit departments over the years and ended up in Hereford which is where I intend to stay now that I have retired. Being a clinical examiner for MRCP PACES proved to be great fun albeit slightly scary, and I’ve given my two pennyworth to national guideline development.

As the proud owner of two bassoons, one more than strictly necessary, I play regularly in local orchestras and chamber groups. Herefordshire and the Welsh borders are prime walking territory where I gasp and wheeze my way up hills, and in my garden I can be observed slashing and burning when the naturalistic look gets too unruly.

Memories from Charing Cross – pausing during anatomy dissection to watch Concord fly past and Sister Margaret, the nursing nun, trying to console distraught students on Dr Nixon’s cardiology ward rounds.

Apparently “He loves you really.”

The episode where Gill, Charlotte and I attempted to make rice pudding in a pressure cooker was also pretty memorable.

Musical memory: Vienna (Ultravox) and Video Killed the Radio Star (Buggles)

MILOS LUKIC

‘After leaving the Cross I moved back to Yorkshire and followed the classic pathway to GP life via hospital posts and GP training .

I met my future and now ex wife in an unusual way. I was doing a minor surgery procedure under LA on a lovely elderly lady who wouldn’t stop talking and by the time I had inserted the last suture 20 minutes after first meeting her she had arranged a date for me with the nurse who was assisting. I should have looked her up and invited her to the wedding.

I’ve 4 offspring who after closely observing me for years , decided there was no way they were going to be Doctors but they have all done me proud and I’m a very lucky man .

After 30 years Doctoring without a day off sick, the changes to the Lifetime and Annual allowances convinced me it was time to have my life back and I retired and now live in sunny Spain half the year and rainy Yorks the other half. My time is spent in my home Gym watching Netflix as I work out , fishing or watching Leeds United.

I wish all my Charing Cross compatriots all the best in the future.

LAURA MCDONAGH

My biggest regret is studying medicine. I also did MRCP, FRCS(Ed) (A&E) and a MSc in Medical Informatics before finally being abused enough to wave 2 fingers at the NHS. Since then have continued my further education gaining professional qualifications in Jewellery, glass and upholstery before a helpful workman, while making a mess of our expensive refurb, remarked ‘If you are so clever - why don’t you do it yourself ?’. Good Idea. So after a spell at Builders School I know more about electrics, carpentry, plumbing, plastering and tiling than I had ever planned to and indeed am qualified to wire a domestic house……..how ridiculous is that.

I split my time between Portobello Road and Val d’Isère so it would be rude not to ski and as I enjoy cooking our life is pretty sociable.

Mike Anderson is still lucky to be living with me and our 2 adorable dogs.

MIKE MCSWINEY

Have spent the last 24 years working in Gloucestershire in Anaesthesia and ICU. Fortunately, no longer doing ICU and on call.

As above 3 wonderful children with my beautiful wife Breege. Oonagh is a dentist, Niamh in her last year at medical school(despite my best efforts to dissuade) and Myles got a double 1st from Cambridge in physical natural sciences yesterday. So yes I’m a proud boastful Dad. Have a fun day.

KATHY FLEMING (NÉE METAXAS) I am sorry that I was unable to be here tonight ……… so many years to catch up on since 1979!

My husband and I took early retirement and, with our two daughters grown up and settled in their own homes, we are pursuing other interests : travel, studies, general reading (subjects other than science and medicine!) and photography.

Careerwise, I specialized in pharmaceutical medicine and worked as Manager of Medical Affairs in a couple of large pharmaceutical companies (Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer). Later, I became self-employed doing part-time contracts to fit in with family commitments.

When my father died, I inherited some land in Metaxata on Kefalonia, the Greek island where I come from. I took some time developing this into a few holiday homes and renovating our old family home, ‘Villa Katerina’. Villa Katerina in Metaxata is how Janet traced me.

A favourite song from CXMS times : ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ reminds me of the Friday night Reynolds Building discos.

MIKE MORGAN

CAROLINE MORTIMER

I live in Suffolk with my family, I have been a surgeon at the Ipswich Hospital for over 20 years.

The Fun Bus experience remains I am still a keen fund raiser and am currently heading The Blossom Appeal ; a campaign to build a breast care centre in Suffolk.

In my spare time I am a Brownie Leader.

I most look forward to our family holidays skiing, sailing and lying on beaches reading books....Bliss.

KEVIN NEWMAN

a. Consultant Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon b. at St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey from 1st February 1996 until retiring 19th October 2018 (now writing a textbook on the History of Trauma) c. brilliant 3-month elective in Nairobi, Kenya, December 1983 to February 1984, working in Paediatric Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital d. getting married to Melissa (medical school librarian at CXHMS) in May 1990; our 3 children, Natasha (27), Jack (25) and Saskia (23); 3-month AO Trauma Fellowship in Berne, Switzerland in Spring 1994; chairing the AO Advances in Trauma Course for Surgeons from 2005-7 in Leeds; teaching trauma surgery in Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Australia, Scotland, Ireland e. Men At Work’s 1983 hit 'Down Under’

PETER NEWMAN

GP training Milton Keynes (Nessan C). Partner in Brandon Suffolk, no traffic lights (100sq miles), 2 level crossings and guests at Center Parcs, (Elveden). Single handed GP, Slough for 6 years. Partner, Bourne End 18 years. Retired May 2018. Working as Locum, GP Appraiser, Locality director Bucks CCG. Occupational Health Physician to Bank of England. Medical Adviser to Philharmonia Orchestra.

Started Music Appreciation Club (MAC1), Treasurer, Medical Revues, G & S (Rod C).

Squash (John G).

Highlights married Angela 33 years ongoing. Travels Everest base camp (Tibet). Arctic - Polar Bears. Galapagos, Tigers -India, Bears - BC. Gorillas - Rwanda. Zip lining – London. Second home: Royal Opera House, Opera, Ballet, Theatre, dining and wines.

Principal Clarinet, World Doctors, World Civic & London Doctors Orchestras.

Supertramp “don’t you look at left leg it’s the only one I’ve got” revue.

Elgar Cello Concerto, evening arranged, Late Jaqueline du Pre. (Fund raising MS research).

DEIRDRE O’GALLAGHER

Deirdre died in January 2015 after a challenging 15 months of treatment for bowel cancer. She was an incredible person - kind, clever, creative, practical and great fun. She was full of energy and enthusiasm for life and people, right up until she died.

Deirdre was a skilled and committed GP partner, working in Shepherd’s Bush, London. She also had a reputation as one of the best GP trainers in London. She was passionate about providing the best care for her patients, and was very popular with patients, staff and colleagues. At her retirement party in Autumn 2014, over 400 of her patients queued around the block to say good-bye to her.

She had an enormous circle of friends who loved her dearly and for whom she was always available. She was important to so many people, but the most important people in Deirdre's life were her husband Barney and their two children, Ronan and Catriona.

Deirdre loved a good party. She also had a passion for 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, film and books. She knitted exquisite complicated garments and was a skilled and enthusiastic Bridge player, seamstress and cook. She was always a pragmatist, and incredibly brave and positive right to the end of her life.

She is still enormously missed.

(Contributed by Laura McDonagh, Philippa Hughes, Kate O’Connor and Clare Lamb)

CHRISTINA KYRIACOU (NÉE PAKOULAS)

1984 was a very long time ago, and it's difficult to know what to include in a short few paragraphs about what I have been doing.

I suppose the highlights have been becoming an ophthalmologist, via circuitous route of many related SHO jobs in Southeast, culminating in becoming a senior registrar on the Moorfields rotation.

By then I was married with 2 small children and, having employed a psychopath as a nanny I, rather suddenly, abandoned medicine altogether in favour of raising my family. So, I have spent the last 20 years living in Radlett, bringing up four amazing children, and building, renovating and letting out properties.

Rose tinted spectacles are an amazing thing, and I never really lost my love of medicine. So, in January last year I approached an old colleague, and the College, and have been retraining. I am now working part time on the bank at the Royal Free - only doing a few clinics week, but that suits me just fine. It still gives me time to keep singing, going to concerts and theatre, and spending time with friends and family.

(And no administrative duties!)

Fun memory from CXH: Fancy dress Summer Ball with a Fun Fair in the car park Memorable song: “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Danced at nearly every weekly disco for 2 years!

That’s all from me folks!

ANDROULLA PALLICAROU

GP LIVING IN NICOSIA CYPRUS

“Thank you for inviting me. It is indeed unbelievable that 40 years have gone since we walked into the Reynolds Building and the hospital. I am sorry it will be very difficult to join you as I live in Cyprus. Please give everybody my love and best wishes. I work as a GP in one of the state practices and am quite satisfied with my job.”

NAZ PAMBAKIAN

"I have been a GP in Acton for over 30 years serving the community around Crown Street Surgery. I was a trainer and worked as a GP expert witness for some years too.

Medical school memories are happy with the camaraderie, the learning and the thrill of qualifying.

I was unusual to be married at the end of the first year and now looking forward to celebrating our ruby anniversary next year. God be praised.

One lasting memory is having Keith Reynolds (RIP) take my appendix out one morning after I'd taken ill while on call the night before! Watched my daughter’s first crawl from my hospital bed!

So many highlights. Saving the odd life and hopefully helping many.

Princess Anne opening the newly built surgery in 1998 was pretty cool.

A 'song' to remind me of CXH is the 'music' from the 'Space Invaders' or 'Asteroids' computer games!"

JUSTIN PARSLOE

I ended up as Senior Partner in a large GP Practice in Herne Bay Kent, dabbling as GPSI in Dermatology, examining on the Dermatology Diploma for Cardiff University, training 20 final year students from Imperial.

My memory is the soccer pitches at Cobham which were like carpet to play on, sadly sold to Chelsea FC! Highlights would include marrying the special Paula, 2 children, Alice now a CMT trainee in Birmingham, Toby doing a PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies at Pembroke College Cambridge. Continuing to support Brighton and Hove Albion and reaching the promised land of Premier League in 2017 although have still not come to terms with the score PORTSMOUTH 5 BRIGHTON 1! Lastly to survive 35 years of full time NHS working and finish on my own terms.

My music are the albums Spiral and China by Vangelis, background to many hours or not! Of revision. Affectionately known as FLOB DOB MUSIC!

MARK PAYNE

It’s crazy when you think its 35 years since we were let loose from CXHMS!! I’ll leave out all the complicated bits, but, overall, life has been great.

I migrated from London to Stafford for Medical HO job, just in time for the Legionella outbreak (not responsible!). Trained in Medicine and then Cardiology in Birmingham and got Consultant Cardiologist post in Walsall in 1995. Had great time but got bored of looking at the elevated section of the M6 after 11 years and moved to Bangor, North Wales, in 2006. The real reason being my wife Sian is from Anglesey and it was a natural time for a new challenge. Dealing with the deficiencies in the Welsh NHS certainly is a challenge, however, we have built a good Cardiology service over 13 years and the bastards reward me by tricking me into being Clinical Director for Medicine 2 years ago (thank God for Annual Allowance tapering and huge tax bills… I can now tell them to stick it!).

Sian and I live in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (which is a real ball-ache when filling out forms), look out at the Snowdonia mountains and have the run of fabulous beaches. Dog (Mac – retriever [except doesn’t!]), 2 rescue cats Zorro and Ella, oh, and 3 ‘kids’ – Anna, 30 and the most beautiful doctor in the world, Elliot, 33, final year Medic at Keele and all round sporty good egg, and Mollie, 25, gorgeous and the only one with the common sense to faint and vomit at the sight of blood, so works in London in fashion and media promotion.

35 years gone in a flash, but I’m the luckiest man alive!

Have fun. Cofion / Regards

Mark

ANDY PERRY

Things have gone much as planned with a few major bumps on the way. I retreated from London after 6 years back to the West Country were I have remained for most of my jobs; GP scheme and some anaesthetics, then GP partnership in Taunton.

I met my match in Nicky during our second house jobs, she was happy to stay in the West Country as well! We have 3 children, all of whom have watched our careers and work life balance and decided to avoid medicine (I would have thought we set a good example!) They have also left the West Country as soon as feasible; one to Barcelona, one to Birmingham and the third to Brighton.

I discovered computing in the 90s and have written (and been paid for) some programs and websites.

I started Mountain Biking with persuasion from one of my sons in 2005 and have been with him and his brother 9 times to the Alps, I cycle once or twice most weeks in the Quantocks.

We have a stable GP partnership and get on well, I still mostly enjoy work and have not yet set a date for retirement Memories from CXHMS; The Blue Anchor, Rugby, Fun Bus, Firm do’s, Reynolds Bops, the endless variety of learning medicine Personal highlights of 35yrs; our wedding, doing up our 1st and 2nd house, Births of our children, getting a partnership, family holidays, Land’s End to John O’Groats, selling my Rota program, children getting to their chosen unis, graduations, mountain biking with the Combe Raiders Songs; has to be something by Supertramp, even my kids would recognise it.

MIKE PHELAN

I have only relatively recently managed to escape the clutches of CXH, having worked there for many years as a psychiatrist. When they did finally release me I went to The Roehampton Priory, to treat the truly needy.

Fortunately, it is only a few minutes bike ride from home, so I am able to respond quickly to help patients with emergency existential and mid-life crises.

Despite hearing me moan about work everyday, my eldest daughter is following me into psychiatry. I have three other children who have more sense.

A few years ago I stupidly thought it was safe to have one quick row, I should have known better, things quickly escalated, and I am now back in a boat every weekend.

Obviously, I have published numerous books and scientific papers and have a barrel-full of letters after my name but I do not want to go into the details here as it would be more likely to depress than impress the rest of you.

ANGELA PITT

House jobs then GP training at West Middlesex hospital and Fulham . I didn't move far from CXH to join a single handed practise in Shepherds Bush in 1990 and to build it up. It was amazing ( by chance ) to be joined by Deirdre and develop the practise even further.

By 1996 , trekking in Morocco , I met Alan from Redcar . In 2001 I opted to move to the north east - medically more disease and less diversity and never finding an equivalent to the practise in Shepherds Bush .I became a portfolio GP doing locums substance misuse out of hours and lots of family planning .

Retired now spending time in Redcar the lakes and Scotland we cycle ,walk and tend an allotment . I've walked the coast to coast west highland way and done various cycling sportives and am seeing the NHS from the other side .

CHARLOTTE PRATT

Consultant geriatrician/orthogeriatrician at Newham Hospital since 1994 3 days a week and at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore since 2011 2 days a week.

Lives in North London with husband Sheldon, a stroke consultant/ geriatrician, two daughters at university, son in 6th form.

ROSIE SHEPPERD

Career path: Follower Derek Fawcett as long as possible‌

GP training then Psychiatry to become a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Oxford. Worked in Tier 3 for many years and was Clinical Director for 8 years . Transferred sideways in 2013 into Childrens Learning Disability and now can diagnose Autism at 100 paces. I still love my job but am hoping to retire in a year or so.

Family: still married to Ian Charles after 26 years. Two lovely daughters, Amy works for the BBC as a social media journalist and Hannah is completing Masters in Environmental Governance and she is going to save the planet! Vic the old Staffie is lovely but a bastard to other smaller dogs...

Greatest achievement: lifelong David Bowie fan Only regret: not marrying a millionaire

DAVE SHERMAN

n 1989 I returned to CXH as registrar to Tony Parkins and Iain Murray-Lyon and, after a lengthy spell at Kings, have been a gastroenterologist / hepatologist at Central Middlesex (more recently also Northwick Park/St Marks) since 1996. I was privileged to have experienced world class clinical and academic standards at the KCH Liver unit.

As I look back, there is no doubt that lessons learned working alongside great clinicians continue to inspire me and influence my practice to this day.

I have a broad practice including ERCP, and still do general medical on take weekends.

I Chair the Trust’s DTC and am a member of London regional medicines committees. I also research into non-invasive assessment of liver disease and have private / medicolegal practices.

I am married to Michelle and have 3 wonderful children - Nick (19), Sophie (16) and Georgia (10). None are likely to do medicine ! I still play tennis regularly, running and keep fit, and enjoy playing various styles of piano.

Piece of music most remembered “Starting over” by John Lennon, from the Double Fantasy album. (I clearly remember hearing about his assassination in December 1980, whilst in the Reynolds).

Enduring (and amazingly clear) memories include: Long afternoons playing tennis at the West London courts; Our first ever teaching ward round with Marc Glaser (“you people are dangerous”); Tie-eating Abe Guz lamenting another “black day” in a tutorial.

DAVID SIMMONS

David is Professor of Medicine Western Sydney University (WSU), Macarthur Clinical School; Head of the Endocrinology Department, Campbelltown Hospital; Director of the South Western Sydney Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolism Translational Research Unit (DOMTRU); Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne, Visiting Professor, University of Ă–rebro, Sweden and Guest Professor, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University. He is a previous President of the Australasian Diabetes In Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) and is currently on the ADIPS Board where he chairs the ADIPS Clinical Audit Working Group. Between 2007-2014, he was the lead diabetes consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK, the inaugural Professor of Medicine at the University of Auckland Waikato Clinical School/General PhysicianDiabetes specialist at Waikato Hospital 2003-2007 and between 19982002, he was the Foundation Chair in Rural Health and First Dean of the Rural Clinical School, University of Melbourne as well as General Physician-Diabetes specialist at Goulburn Valley Health. He has over 300 publications and won several national and international awards for his work on diabetes. In 2018 he was made a Distinguished Professor by WSU. He lives in South Western Sydney with his wife and 2 sons, and near a troop of kangaroos.

CAROLINE SMITH

I have worked as a part-time GP partner in rural West Sussex for the last 25 years. In this time I have also been a GP appraiser and trainer .For the last 5 years I have been the TPD for Brighton GP VTS. This year will be my last working as a partner as I plan to extend my role for HEE as an educator and will be the Programme Director for IGPR in KSS deanery.

My memories of happy times at CXHMS include being stuck in the lift in the halls of residence and being rescued eventually by firemen. Etched on my memory from being stuck for hours after a pub night out is the empty crisp packet that doubled up as a urinal .

MARK SPENCER

a. What did you end up doing?

GP, trainer etc in a medium size practice in Ealing for 29 years. Alongside this leadership and management as PEC, CCG Chair then Medical Director NW London PCTs, Med Dir Quality and Service Design NHS England and then London Regional Med Dir. 18 months in consultancy (Carnall Farrar) and now a portfolio - GP in Bullingdon Prison, Med Dir NWL, NED for London Ambulance and a bit of independent consultancy.

My wife has multiple sclerosis which gives a different perspective on health and services.

b. Where did you end up doing it?

Ealing, NW London, and a little bit elsewhere c. A memory from your time at CXH Racing down the stairs from lecture theatres to get to snooker tables. Physiology classes in the graveyard d. Personal highlights of the last 35 years

Being on trailer for HIGNFY (as protesters chant as we enter high court for JR of service changes) Scuba diving and flying lessons Two most fantastic daughters and a wonderful grandson.

STEVE STEARE AND ALISON STREULE

Steve Steare Memories: Life in Notting Hill, Denehurst Gardens, St Elmo’s Road, Rusthall Avenue (summer ’81: Rush – Permanent Waves) and Shakespeare Road; walking through the cemetery from Baron’s Court on a fine morning; Borshtch N Tears; Dungeons and Dragons games nights with pitta bread pizzas and a bottle of port; Rock Garden; the Speculum centre-fold; BSc at The Middlesex; learning to drive in Dicky’s car; incessant “tu-tu-tu-toooo” of Cope warming up his oboe reed; The Mikado; shadowing at West Mid; elective in Zimbabwe; Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Camel and Jethro Tull at The Apollo.

Career: Clinical Development and Pharmacovigilance since 1994; now working as an independent consultant.

Highlights: Marriage to Ali in 1988; our children Laura and Tom; regular catch-ups and weekends with CXHMS alumni; holidays in The Lake District, Canada, Switzerland; cycling Sportives.

What I’ve Learnt: Work-Life balance - the hard way; “You can't control the cards you're dealt, just how you play the hand”.

Alison Streule

Fifteen years on we are embedded in Kingsclere , a village in the foothills of the North Hampshire Downs, where I have worked as a part time salaried GP since 1997, and surprisingly still enjoy myself most of the time. Laura lives at home but Tom has moved to London building his career in Mental Health clinical research.

In no particular order I loved Percy Road, cycling everywhere, tennis tour in The South West, hockey on Wednesdays, a pavement climb along Tottenham Court Road, an unsuccessful raft race {who thought rubber tyres would float, Mark?}, Rag Week double decker bus tour, Paediatrics in Derby and my elective in Kenya.

My most memorable music is without doubt two year’s of Andy Cope’s daily oboe playing .

What have I achieved? Well I suppose still enjoying work with no retirement plans just yet!

I still hope to achieve a better tennis serve.

ROBIN SU

Dear Fellow Classmates from CXHMS, I am a dermatologist in Hong Kong where my family is now located. It has been an honour and privilege to study at CXHMS and to be one of your classmates.

The year at Huxley and Inman Hall, as well as the Intercalated BSc (Hons) Year had been fun. Playing the violin in CXHMS Orchestra for school production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” was an enjoyable experience There had been many happy memories and I missed the UK, especially London, Bath, and Nottingham where I was born.

Are there any personal highlights after graduation?

Should I include Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (UK), Fellowship of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow) etc.? - - - - I thank my wife Grace and our family for the love and support over the last two decades.

The greatest highlight of my life is to know Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and friend.

I thank him for leading me daily through the high mountains and low valleys in life.

John 3:16

JANET SWAIN

Aka. Dr Janet Leese Tribute Solihull News Feb 2014

Tributes have been paid to a doctor who died aged 57 following a short illness.

Dr Janet Leese, a senior doctor at The Village Surgery in Cheswick Green, passed away January 30.

Dr Leese practiced in Shirley since 1988 and became a GP in Cheswick Green in 1992.

Colleagues said she had a strong vision for providing high standards of care for patients. Dr Leese project managed the building of the Cheswick Green surgery which was opened in 1994.

Paying tribute to her colleague, Stephanie Copland, practice manager at the Village Surgery, said: “Dr Leese will be sorely missed by residents across the borough.

“Her friends, colleagues and patients have been shocked at the rapid onset of her illness, having seen her working during the first week of October, to being taken ill and subsequently being diagnosed with mesothelioma. She was passionate about health care and very many of her patients will testify what a wonderful GP she was.

“Dr Leese, who was known as Mrs Janet Blunt outside of work, was also a devoted mother, wife, daughter and sister and especially valued time spent with her family, who all miss her desperately.

“Tributes have been received at The Village Surgery from very many patients and GP colleagues showing the impact of the loss of one of the borough’s most valued GPs.” Patient Paul Burrows from Shirley also paid tribute.

“Dr Leese was such a lovely person and a very dedicated lady – she was a friend as well as my doctor,” the Shirley resident said.

HELEN TABBERER Hi Folks. I can’t make the reunion - but as Janet said, I inconsiderately gave birth 18 years ago on 21/9/2001, and an 18th Birthday celebration is taking precedence…

So - the last 35 years…

GP training scheme in Great Yarmouth, f ollowed by working as a full time GP principal in Lowestoft for 10 years or so. Spot of locuming and then retainer scheme in Norwich while children were small, leading to a salaried GP post at University of East Anglia Medical Practice since 2003. Started a little communication skills teaching at the UEA in 2016, and began GP appraising in 2017. I still really enjoy the patients, and the job remains a privilege (sorry, corny) - but probably only because I now work part time. There is always something new to learn. Being an appraiser means I meet GPs doing the same job in many slightly differing ways - but in essence we all see the same type of problems and struggle with the same issues. I like us (doctors) - doing our best in challenging circumstances.

Memories Of Notting Hill Gate and a Mini on the steps; a motorbike in the lecture theatre and a pretend shooting. Of warmth and gratitude to those I have shared time and experiences with. Of the people we have lost along the way, and the sadness that has brought.

Personal highlights have to be close personal friendships and the children.

And music was never so important to me, so being educated by my daughter has been a whole new experience - I have learned to appreciate Dodie, Cavetown and Hippo Campus…

MIRIAM TAO

Since 1994 living in sunny Singapore enjoying durians when not working in National Cancer Centre as medical oncologist.

Blessed to be married to a enduring cardiologist, Terrance and to have wonderful son Christopher studying at Lee Kong Chian school of medicine developed by NTU and Imperial College London.

Continue to be inspired by patients resilience and bravery in the face of their cancer and my utmost to help them.

I pray that everyone from our class may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well

JULIAN TEARE

Sorry not to be there with you.

It would have been great to catch up with some old chums.

The last few years have been good for me. Married with 3 teenage kids. Usual challenges of screen time and fighting about Fortnite.

I'm now a Professor of Gatroenterology at Imperial and the Royal Marsden.

Grey hair is now white.

Despite all the titles we're still the same underneath and meeting up with friends from the class of 79 just emphasises how little we've changed.

SIMON WALLACE I arrived at Charing Cross wanting to be a surgeon, but quickly and fortuitously realised that was not my bag. Via a circuitous route of general practice and public health, the last 20 years have been spent in the realms of digital health.

This unconventional medical journey has involved setting up my own business, working for start-ups and navigating the unpredictable maelstrom of multinationals.

As one of my highlights at medical school was the experience of running Rag for a year, I guess in hindsight, it’s no surprise that I have ended up in the business side of healthcare.

Today this trade is plied in the field of artificial intelligence and speech recognition.

Personal highlights during the last 35 years are topped by meeting my wife, the wonderful Anne-Marie who has taught me ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’. Persuading Richard Branson to lend me a jumbo jet to take kids with cancer for Christmas dinner at 35,000 ft was unbelievable good fortune.

Returning to the Gambia (place of my elective), setting up a primary care clinic and kitting out a remote village with malaria nets seemed to complete the Charing Cross circle.

As for a piece of music from those wonderful and irreplaceable Charing Cross years, Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street resounding through the corridors of Huxley Hall stands out as a beacon during those gruelling first year exams.

DEBBIE PARFITT (NÉE WATERS)

I am on my pre-retirement wind down ! Weird after spending so long working towards being a GP on the Ealing scheme , joining a Practice ( pre Gavin and Stacey ) in Barry before landing in Pontypool and remaining as a GP partner for 20years. I dabbled a bit in dermatology and community paediatrics along the way . Gradually scaling back my commitments over the next year & looking forward to it !

My other professional contribution is in medical politics, I have just stepped down from Chair of Gwent LMC for a quieter life as deputy but will remain as an ex officio Officer as it’s fun.

My specialty is causing health ministers to storm out of conferences - all that bantering with Prof Glazer has stood me in good stead .

Cannot believe it’s 40 years since my next door neighbour in Huxley Hall blared out ‘Breakfast in America ‘ and I discovered concerts in Hammersmith Odeon .

Personally I have been fortunate surrounded by family and friends in my native Wales , married to Steve and so happy to see our daughter fledge with a world tour gap year post Masters , before embarking on a career .

MARY WALTON (SOUTHGATE) Mary sadly died from carcinoma of the ovary on 2nd September 2018, seven years after her palliative diagnosis. Mary worked in Community Child Health in Essex and developed expertise in ASD and ADHD, especially the psychological aspects.

In her life, she lived positively with many friends and interests, especially art, photography and nature. She was a talented artist. With her family , she loved travelling and created fantastic photographic diaries of their trips. Mary’s own close family were a particularly important part of her life, and her son Tom brought her great happiness. She delighted in many happy times they shared and was proud of him and his achievements.

At the celebration of her life, her family with colleagues and many friends from diverse connections remembered her gifts of fun , humour, kindness and ability to help others to find and achieve their best. Through out her long and often challenging illness and treatment, she remained outwardly cheerful and focussed on others, Mary wanted to be defined by living, not her disease. Mary would have loved to join us all for the reunion and is missed by so many.

Sue Deebank ( Buck)

PETE WILLSON After qualifying from the Cross, I entered surgical training in Birmingham, West London, and the Royal London Hospital finally completing my higher surgical training as the last surgical Senior Registrar in England, at St Marys Hospital, Paddington. I trained in Upper GI and HPB surgery with a specialist interest in the then infant specialty of laparoscopic surgery.

I was appointed Consultant to Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton and Kingston Hospital in 1997 moving exclusively to Kingston Hospital when Queen Mary’s closed 2 years later. During my consultancy I held the positions of Director of Modernisation, Surgical Lead, Education Lead, Undergraduate Vice Dean, Chair of the Medical Staff Committee and Staff Governor. As a trainer I ran courses locally and at the Royal College of Surgeons developing a particular interest in energy in surgery and diathermy, an interest that led to lecture courses in the UK, France, Denmark, Russia and Australia and a contribution to the RCS on line diploma of surgery.

I qualified as a mediator in 2013 and have a practice as an Expert Witness.

I left the NHS in April 2018. I am now the Operations Lead for a Domestic Abuse Charity, Restored, and run a surgical private practice.

Janine and I married when I was in my final year at the Cross and we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in 2019. We have three daughters, Lizzy, Suzie and Becky and one grandchild Isaac. None of our children have wanted to go into medicine.

My lasting memory from Medical School was finding my motorcycle at the front of the 8th floor lecture theatre, placed as a revenge prank by the members of my dissection table, and then riding it out of the side exit; directly into the Fire Officer.

MARTIN WISEMAN

Qualified, then after house jobs, various SHO posts with a view to being haematologist. 2years as medical registrar at Salisbury. ( No Novichuk then), Loved the interventional stuff but in those days if you moved up the seniority chain, hands on stuff stopped.

Changed track to GP trainee and then partnership by the sea!

Married Claire, who I met on elective in Barbados, in 1988. 2 boys (1991 and ‘93).

Played waterpolo until 2005 when a skiing accident and a trip to Innsbruck hospital meant I now stick to swimming and windsurfing.

2018 I retired as a partner and now just do 2 days a week and concentrating on full time enjoyment.

WENDY WONG

After my MBBS in 1984, I stayed in the UK to complete my MRCP and Dermatology training for another 6 years. In 1990, with my husband, also a native of Hong Kong and an ENT Surgeon, we returned to Hong Kong to start our private practice in Dermatology and ENT respectively, and we have stayed here since. London is still our second home as our two daughters studied in the UK boarding schools. My older daughter is now training in Internal Medicine in Hong Kong while my younger daughter is studying Medicine in London.

During my Charing Cross Days, I remember fondly of the Anatomy dissecting room teamwork, although I still have nightmares of the Anatomy vivas. My cooking skills was perfected at the first preclinical year residence at Huxley Hall. However, my driving skills proved to be more useful in my clinical years driving from the south-west to north -east of London before the M25 was completed. I did not choose Dermatology, rather it chose me, but in retrospect, I could not help thanking Dr Jeff Cream who inspired me in his gentlemanly clinical teaching.

In my spare time from my clinical work and daughters-rearing, I am a keen amateur pianist. I manage to engage in some concerts from time to time, playing in piano solo, chamber music ensembles, school choirs and family concerts. I am thankful for the Lord’s abundant blessings in all seasons.

I would like to dedicate the 1984 UK Chart song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, to my best friends and comrades throughout Boarding School and Medical School, Miriam Tao and Peke-Yan Kon. As our Professors describe us medical students at the time as “ Bright eyed and Bushy Tailed” , this is the song that answers it perfectly !

ALISON “DOLLY” WYRLEY-BIRCH

I am a neonatologist, working in Qatar in a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (Sidra) for the past 2 years.

Before leaving the UK I was Medical Director at Birmingham Women’s. Life had some significant challenges.

My best memories of CXH were the rowing years and taking part in the Annual Christmas Reviews.

Learning to scull in Vermont with my husband Simon and Sheila and her family was a highlight of recent years. It is always a joy to spend time with close family and friends, especially the children. We continue to have some great holidays together.

I always think of the Review we did when I hear: “Let’s do the time warp again” from the Rocky Horror Show.

WANTED INFORMATION

We hope to see some of them at the REUNION or That their Charing cross friends will let us know how they are doing

Nick Allison

Jayshree Dave

Chris Kearns

GP Plymouth

Microbiologist PHE&HPA

Anaesthetist

Graham Barter

Leonie Economides

Oxford University Hospitals

GP

GP in Cyprus Geraldine Edge Anaesthetist RNOH Stanmore Nigel Fisher Psychiatrist working in Canada Tim Kenny GP Queensland Australia

Jo Bore

Lynne Bryant Emery Cooper GP Richmond /Liberia Jamie Flynn retired John Granell GP Battersea

Peter Korczak Max Facs Derby – retired

Kwapong Oseiwa Paediatrician Bedford

Ann Calloway (Redgrave)

Orthopaedics/sports medicine/ osteopathy CMO GB Rowing Anne Hall Microbiologist Harefield Hospital Mike Hodges Jeremy Howes GP Hounslow Phillipa Hughes Alex Jolly GP N.Cheam Mike Katesmark Gynaecologist

Simon Lambert

Jeremy Phillips

John Slavin

Orthopaedics UCL

GP Lochgilphead, Argyll & Bute

General Surgery Crewe

Howard Ring Psychiatrist retired Cambridge

Anna Majewska GP

Emmanuel Srivastava Gastroenterologist

Sheila Ryan Anaesthetist Boston USA

Kate O’Connor

Chris Ogden

David Tew

Urologist and food critic!

Anaesthetist Addenbrookes

Jeremy Sanderson Professor Gastroenterology Guy’s and St Thomas’ Paul O’Halloran GP Southampton Yusuf Imtiaz GP and Occupational Health

Lloyd Savy Radiologist London Carolyn Perryer GP Northamptom

Harriet Scorer Pharmaceuticals

PHOTOS

BRIAN DREWE LECTURE THEATRE

IN ACTION