Old Lad

I’m just back from a reunion with a group I was at Medical school with. It marks 60 year since we all started at Liverpool and 55 years since we all graduated. There were 11 of us plus some partners. It set me thinking what is it that keeps us all in touch and enjoying meeting up after so many years – the bonds must be strong. One thing that occurred to me was that the experience of starting the Medical course was such an intense experience, and continued to be, that we all established deep friendships as a way of mutual support. The nature of the curriculum in Liverpool was that the first year was largely devoted to the study of anatomy. So consider the impact on a group of 18 year olds, straight from school, spending their days dissecting dead bodies. I suppose nowadays there would be anguished debate about our “Mental Health and Wellbeing”, but in reality we just got on with it and the friendships formed gave us support.

So what did we talk about? Lots of reminiscing as there always is at these events. Stories of life as junior doctors and a general agreement (I think) that although it was hard work we did have some fun. And fun seems in short supply in today’s NHS. As you would expect in a group of late 70 year olds we have all had experience of becoming patients ourselves with mixed feelings about how we were treated. Its interesting that a lot of my non medical friends think that because I am an ex doctor who worked in the NHS that I will somehow have some sort of privilege and be treated better than the average customer. Not a bit of it. Sadly the personal touch from colleagues has gone so, for example, the practice I followed of giving a colleague who I was treating my home phone number is but a distant memory, In terms of our fitness as a group we are not doing too badly – a few walking aids present – but there were some sad stories of others in our year who are not faring so well. We did eat and drink well and there was some talk of craft beers – and some sampling. There was a slight tinge of sadness for me because my late wife Anne used to enjoy these get togethers and after all she was an integral part of of my medical life. So we parted after 2 days and promised to meet again.

We met in Harrogate and I have to say I had forgotten what a nice place it is. The town centre has thankfully preserved most of its historic buildings from when it was a spa town and it does still have individuality in its shops and eating places. And if you are of a mind you can still “take the waters” foul smelling though they are. To me it was a welcome respite from all the terrible things going on in the world. If you are in need of a short break I can recommend it. And I travelled by train which I always enjoy, and even better all the trains ran on time!