1962 and 1972 Medical Reunions

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There was a splendid attendance at our 1972 Medical Reunion in September with participants from New Zealand, Canada, USA, France and all over the UK. As well as those who had graduated in 1972, we were joined by a number of people who had graduated the following year, having completed an intercalated honours year following our preclinical years together. In total, we had 102 participants of whom 59 were graduates and 43 were partners.

Old haunts

A varied programme of activities and visits was enjoyed, some visiting old haunts and some to new University facilities.

We toured the new Medical School and Royal infirmary at Little France and revisited the Old Medical School in Teviot Place where we held a scientific meeting in the old Anatomy Lecture Theatre. This was followed by a trip down memory lane around the old department, courtesy of Professor Gordon Findlater.

There was plenty of opportunity for reminicing during a walk around the transformed Old Royal Infirmary site at Quartermile, as well as during the drinks reception in the Royal College of Surgeons later that day.

Our reunion weekend also included dinner and entertainment by way of Professor Jim Drife’s Unbelievable Brass Band and Dr Roger Cull’s Jazz Group in the South Hall Complex at Pollock Halls of Residence, as well as a tour of the Scottish Parliament, followed by light hearted Medico-Political talks from class members.

On the Sunday, those wishing to play golf were also able to enjoy the links at Archerfield.

We have also set up a Facebook group site to enable people to reminisce and post photographs old and new.

Dr Kerr Fraser

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Souvenirs of the weekend

As a souvenir of our weekend, Claire Benton produced an excellent CD with photographs of many of the places where we had studied, worked, stayed and played, including many hospitals and university buildings which have subsequently been closed or demolished.

I was also able to trace the vast majority of the year and produced short summaries of their medical careers which made interesting reading. We have also set up a Facebook group site to enable people to reminisce and post photographs old and new.

Organisation

There are lots of people to thank for making the weekend such a success including various university staff, the RCSE and our organising committee, but special mention goes to Mike Sansbury who worked tirelessly, as part of the committee, until his untimely death in July.

We have held reunions every 10 years since graduation but, after extremely positive feedback from all participants, it has been decided that our next reunion should be in just 5 years time.

1962 MBChB 50th Anniversary Reunion

On 19th and 20th September, there was a very creditable turn out for the 50th anniversary reunion of those who graduated in medicine in 1962 with 50 graduates and 31 partners attending. This was our eighth reunion so that, while many of us had met five years ago, others had made a special effort to attend this auspicious anniversary, and in terms of geographical spread, some had travelled from as far as Canada in the west and Israel in the east.

We were mercifully supplied with large name badges, which reduced the initial awkwardness of ageing brains trying to put names to ageing faces, and soon settled down to renew old friendships, reminisce about times past and catch up on more recent developments.

It was fascinating that while some of our members were still involved in part time active medical practice, others had left medicine behind completely, and acquired totally new skills and academic interests.

Dr Bryan Dale

A full programme

The programme consisted of a buffet reception on the first evening and the following morning at the Royal College of Surgeons talks by Professor Jane Norman and Dr Richard Chan updated us on some of the cutting edge medical research being carried out in our alma mater, and Dr Dorothy Crawford and Ms.Tara Womersley talked about their new book on the history of the medical faculty.

At the more formal dinner that evening, instead of having an invited after dinner speaker, year members were asked to give short presentations on a particular event from their student or junior doctor days.

We would like to thank the University Alumni Relations Department for their considerable assistance in organising this reunion.

Considering what anarchic, monosyllabic students we had been, this proved a great success, with just the right number of high quality reminiscences.

Dr Bryan Dale