Jane and I are still out in Western Canada. We came to Edmonton in 1990 from Durham planning to stay a year or two and I am still in the same job and still enjoying it, scary really.

I'm a radiologist at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, a busy tertiary care hospital, well equipped, great colleagues and residents (training registrars) and with lots of interesting pathology. Healthcare out here is 99% state funded but without quite the same cash crises as the NHS. My main radiological interest is chest and abdominal imaging.

Jane is now the Anglican Bishop of Edmonton, so I have a second life as the person who follows around at official duties saying "splendid, splendid". Jane was made bishop just before Lambeth in 2008 so I joined the bishop's spouse part of the conference, one of about 6 men amongst about 600 women.

Jane is busy in her job but has found time to take up cello. I do a little woodwork when I can.

We have four children, all grown up, one still at university. Olivia aged 2, on my back in the photo, is our first grandchild.

My mother lives in Kendal so I get back to England a couple of times a year and Jane and I like to travel when we can. We got stranded in Copenhagen when the volcano erupted in Iceland, were in Korea just before they started shelling each other and in Cairo a week or so before the revolution started. We plan to be in Burundi for Jane to visit a bishop there this autumn, but hope for an uneventful trip.

“Nothing changed” was my initial reaction to writing something for the year book but on reflection (and having read my daughter’s entry about me from 5 years ago) perhaps it has. I can now consult in sign language, Google translate and pigeon Lithuanian/Russian/Latvian due to an invasion of Kings Lynn from the East. General Practice seems to be getting increasingly tough with longer days, more responsibility and a feeling that it’s all a bit pointless. I spend 2 days a week in Cambridge to escape, working at the University as an Assistant Director of GP Studies – sounds grand but isn’t really. It has given opportunities to attend conferences abroad – most notably in Banff, Canada earlier this year (it just happened to be in the skiing season).

Liz and I remain happily married with 2 new kittens to replace the children (they are a lot less trouble and can be neutered at an early age). Earlier this year we had a “sabbatical” from work and spent 6 weeks in New Zealand and the Cook Islands. We met up with David and Jill Barker in Wellington for a weekend. Our batteries were refreshed but after a few months back are in need of recharging once more. I have noticed one or two comments about retirement in other year book entries and suspect this may be the hot topic of conversation at the reunion!

Sporting activity has suffered – I had to retire from playing hockey due to a very dodgy knee. I did manage to nearly kill myself on a long distance bike ride with Harold Hosker, Mark Walker and Stephen Tate (year of 1983) in the Yorkshire Dales last year. I am still skiing at any opportunity (not many in Kings Lynn). I’m afraid there won’t be any more Great North Runs.

Our children are almost off our hands. Megan is now an FY2 doctor at the Northern General, Sheffield and contemplating which branch of medicine to move into. Luke has graduated from Cambridge and is about to start a year’s Masters in Computer Science at Birmingham following which he might even get a job.

I am going for the award for the least changed entry. I am still working as a GP in Dersingham, just outside Kings Lynn. I still work in the local drug dependency service once a week. I am still married to Los (despite the snoring). Our children continue to follow conventional career paths – Medicine at Sheffield for Megan (this seems to be a popular option for the children of the class of 92) and perpetual studenthood for Luke.

I enjoy nice holidays and have almost, but not quite come to like going skiing. I still drive an Audi TT and on warm days have been known to take my top off. I have 2 kittens called Lulu and Ziggy. I am still having piano lessons but progressing rather slowly.

I still live in the same house and enjoy watching soap operas on TV.

I am looking forward to the day when Los realises I’ve had my hair done.

Sadly, I still haven’t found a toy boy.

Courtesy of Jill Barker, David still wears creased, pressed trousers & shirt but, after therapy, allows the board shorts to be drip dried. Living in Australia for the past 10 years has lowered his BP all due to the intense study of a new drug called Shiraz. With still 2,555 potential golfing days yet to go before he retires he contents himself with planning the next skiing holiday, trip to the beach or watching rugby. He has been trained up to Hotel Manager and plays a mean Basil Fawlty to the family and friends who come to stay with us in Oz.

With 2 out of 3 kids now being cared for by the education authority (University), David and Jill still have 2 years to go before the last bird leaves the nest. We talk about climbing Kilimanjaro or spending a month in a Buddhist retreat – but we do a lot of talking!!! He is really looking forward to the reunion and seeing everyone – or is that because his wife isn’t coming with him and spending money in M&S?

Why does time seem to pass more quickly the older one gets? I can't believe it's 30 years ! We are still living in a village outside Carlisle and in the same jobs. I'm a breast physician at the Cumberland Infirmary working 3 days a week which is great. I work with a really good team and feel we deliver a good service to patients in spite of management trying to mess things up! Our only problem is finding decent breast radiologists, anyone got one to spare?

Richard has been a partner in the same practice for 26 years and would love to do something else! He is a GPSI in opthalmology which he enjoys and would like to increase( though if he's completely honest he would much rather do history and archeology!) He has tried reducing his hours to 4 days a week but seems to do the same amount of work, just in less time and for less pay. The perils of part time work!

We have enviously read other entries who now have independent children, that must be wonderful! Ours all seem committed to being long term students. Hannah having done biological sciences at Durham, a gap year in Oz, a masters at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine and another gap year is now a medical student at Imperial. Claire was at Newcastle Uni ( in Leazes for the first year and it hasn't changed at all!) and has a BA in History, then had a gap year in Spain and Central America and finally,( we hope),is doing…..medicine at Bristol ! Jonnie is at UCL studying Maths and Theoretical Physics and reassures us he doesn't want to do medicine…but would like to take a gap year then do a masters and Phd. Retirement is receding into the dim and distant future! They all promise to look after us in our impoverished old age but perhaps we should get that in writing!

We also have a lovely black lab called Millie who is the cheapest and most good-natured member of the family!

Last year Richard had a paid 3 month sabbatical from the practice, well worth having in the partnership agreement. We stayed at our apartment in Switzerland for 6 weeks, just walking the alps and chilling. The next 6 weeks we spent in Peru and the Galapagos islands which was incredible. It was a taste of what retirement could be and we can't wait ! We otherwise spend our time gardening ( 2 acres to look after), fell walking in the lakes, have an annual sailing holiday somewhere warm and Rich is writing a history data base in his spare time ( usually from 12 midnight to 2 am !)

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon at the reunion and well done to the organisers (again!)

Mum spends lots of time being very busy and very important (or at least she claims so) as a partner in a Lanchester (small village near Durham) practice and CCG chair North Durham. She has a special interest in pain (apparently managing, not causing), as well as homeopathy and acupuncture. She is still conducting in-depth research into the health benefits of red wine (or at least I assume that’s what all the empty bottles are for). Enjoys ‘middle-aged ladies stretching’, otherwise known as yoga. For the last two years she has also been custodian of 4 goats, 12 sheep, 2 dogs and a very smelly cat. Well, I suppose she needs something to keep her busy now we are both at uni.

Carol (just graduated in Modern Languages at Manchester and going back to do her Masters)

Chris (just completed first year medicine at – where else – Newcastle)

My update to you all is difficult to write. Many of you knew Peter, my husband, as we married whilst I was still at Medical school. Unfortunately Peter died of a massive pulmonary embolus in October 2009. He was happiest when he was pottering on outside hence I have included a picture of him with the goats that he breed.

I am also including a picture of my daughter and I as my son is averse to photos and he may meet some of you as his teachers!

Amazing 30 years on, how time has flown. Never one to sit still for long I am now working in Abu Dhabi at the Corniche Hospital which is a public sector hospital where we deliver over 9000 babies from a very complex high risk population, I love it! I initially came out for a year after I finished as Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist to set up a residency style training program in O&G and found the whole experience intriguing, so stayed on a little longer. On many occasions I have been so far out of my comfort zone it has hurt but in the process I have learnt so much about the arab speaking world and myself. I still, of course, also work on the labour ward, teaching training and delivering lots of babies. Still married to the ever calm David, who with our youngest son has made the trip out to Abu Dhabi with me, we are having a great time. We love the sunshine and life style and the work is fascinating. David, who is now retired, plays golf, runs cricket matches and looks after Eddie while I continue to work 12 + hours a day, it was ever thus! We have camped in the desert, dived in the Maldives and walked around Jordan and are looking forward to many more adventures, before we return to the UK, probably in two years but who who knows...

Our two eldest children Polly now 22, and Jessie 19 are both at University in the UK. Polly is in her last year at Edinburgh where she is studying ecology and Jess has just started at Manchester reading classics. Eddie has no plans beyond becoming an actor and playing cricket for England.

I am sorry not to be present for this reunion. I really enjoyed the last one but it is just a little too far on this occasion.

My big news is that I have restarted D.J.ing; this was brought about by my father giving me his collection of 60s/70s vinyl singles for Christmas two years ago. Boxing day evening I had a night going thru the collection and playing the highlights to friends and family who suggested that I should think about playing them to a wider audience. By adding them to my own collection from my old Union level 2/6 "disco" days meant that I was able to do just that. We found a set of decks at the junk shop on Westgate hill (Cloud 10 made in Sheffield in the 1970s) and got a P.A. from Maplin; back in business!! Old School. Great fun .

Work wise; now P/T and freelance. Have further trained as a GPWSI in MSK/Sports medicine and in Wilderness/Expedition medicine. I have been on numerous different charity challenges (cycling/trekking ) as the Medic (unpaid but hugely rewarding).

Family all well. Happy Days.

With the advent of GP Commissioning I have returned to the dark side as Chair of a first-wave CCG, whilst dropping my practice commitment to five sessions. All the offspring have now flown the nest but work seems to have quickly filled any time freed up. Nigel is now a qualified solicitor in London. Tommy dropped out of Med. School, went back to Japan and returned (occasionally) to do Japanese Studies at SOAS. Lizzie is less rebellious and is in her second year at Liverpool Med. School.

I still pursue many hobbies, from video editing to woodturning, beekeeping and gardening to baking. I have even built myself a wood-fired oven in the garden and am currently trying to replicate the Mallorcan ensaimada. We ski in winter and enjoy walking. Jacky and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year by hiking in Wengen, Switzerland, whilst we explored the Outer Hebrides in May.

I have been a GP for 14 years having done Anaesthetics for 11 years. My practice is in the middle of the Fens so I have gone back to my roots. Somewhat depressing! I had learned to appreciate hills. I work part-time but also do training and appraisals-the usual. We live in a small village which has a church and a pub, only one of which I ever set foot in.

I have 2 grown up children: Felicity has embarked upon a career in corporate law and Edward is at the Royal Agricultural College, damaging his liver. I am still married to Alan (he would have some wisecrack about that and prison sentences).We have had a succession of horses and dogs though only have a Springer and black Lab at present. Every time I go to the vet I realise that I chose the wrong career!

Andrew Carmichael

5-year follow-up - Couch potato existence has preserved the skin and joints – who cares about the neuronal decay and greying hair.

Full-time practising, but imperfect dermatologist. Reluctant clinical director dermatology Teesside. Teaching, examining and pseudo-research being squeezed, which is uncomfortable. Recent stimulating sorties to Ghana with experience of dermatology in the dark.

Still on first marriage, with no more children. Daughters prepared to sort out pharmacy in the RVI and the economics of South America.

Whatever befalls the NHS and team GB, hoping solar panels and aspired allotment ensure survival until the next review.

I can’t really believe that this year we are celebrating 30 years since we were first unleashed on the general public as junior docs. It hardly seems possible. As does the fact that it’s almost 10 years since the Coulthards left the northeast for Australia. It turns out that Brisbane suits us well. With the exception of the 2011 floods (it pays to live in a suburb with ‘hill’ in the name) the weather is generally great, and in recent years we have, like all good Aussies, divided our time increasingly between city and beach.

On the work front I am lucky that I really enjoy what I do, combining diagnostic neuro and neurointervention. Just as well, as the effect of the exchange rate on my meagre NHS pension means that I will probably never be able to retire! Fiona manages to juggle full time work, a Uni course and keeping us all fed and looked after whilst wondering why she can’t find time for her painting.

Liam has finally taken up his med school place after a couple of undergrad degrees, and is finishing off his PhD. Hannah has an art degree and has been working full time while she decides which Uni course she really wants to do. The two of them have recently returned to live at home again, so we just weren’t fast enough on the downsizing. Christian has another couple of years to go at school yet, so we’ve agreed to let him stay, for now.

Our stream of visitors continues, and increasingly includes the second generation - children of friends, or friends of our children. It’s pretty easy to stay in touch with the UK, and we have been lucky enough to visit often enough so that my mum reckons she sees more of me now than when we lived in Whitley Bay. Unfortunately, with other commitments and school term dates we can’t make it to this reunion weekend. I’m sure it will be a fantastic experience and a source of many more good memories. I will try extra hard to get to the next one.

Finally, thanks to Alan Brook for organising and hosting this yearbook, as well as the previous editions, which are a fantastic reminder of all the great people who make up the class of 1982. Have a great reunion!

I wont be able to make it to the reunion as its my youngest's 21st and I am in Shrewsbury en famille. . Sorry. However., please find attached a recent piccie or three.

What is there to report? I am still plodding on in the fifth year of Head of School of Anaesthesia for Yorks and Humber, hiring and firing, and doing QA stuff all over yorkshire to keep the GMC/College etc happy as well as doing five GA list a week still in Leeds. I have jacked in doing paediatric anaesthesia now, but still have much the same job plan...err except in a different hospital, as the majority of my work is now at the Leeds Infirmary.

One significant achievement was winning an art competition in 2008 and thus a College Medal for a fifty foot long doodle of a railway layout, started during a dull lecture on immunology or possibly HDBA in 1977! The monster work of art was done during the occasional delays and quiet moments that occur between cases during a working life in Uni/Fatherhood/the NHS. No patients were harmed.

Still into the trains, as best as one can these days, as it has to be steam and heritage stuff nowadays as the main line operators never do anything unusual because of Health and safety/cost/training/cant be bothered. One of the images is of a trip from Marseille to Paris with a persuasive french speaking colleague not so long ago.

I have done quite a bit of cycling, even did the "Coast to Coast" Whitehaven - Tynemouth last year with workmates.

Allison is now a professional housewife and dog carer. She gave up Learning Support at the local comprehensive deciding that being threatened and told to "*k off" for six pounds an hour wasnt really worth it.

Roz, our eldest is living in north leeds and is a teacher. Fiona, (middle) starts a PhD in Birmingham in october. She has spent the last year doing her PRHO job in optometry at St James's in leeds. Helen (youngest) has been working like a dog in healthcare in Wetherby. So for the last year we have had two of the kids at home squabbling. This drops to zero at home in the autumn as Helen starts midwifery.

So, for the second time, Allison and I will be Home Alone.

We are still in Leeds, not able to downsize yet. Allison's mother lives nearby. The house in Coniston is up for sale (you can google Thwaite House Coniston) , but unfortunately no takers at the price.Hopefully someone is going to shell out money for a ruin with prospects. Please form an orderly queue.

Looking back at my last entry — not much has changed: the four humans and a are all five years older.

I have finished my term as churchwarden — a welcome gain of at least one evening a month and Sunday lunchtimes! At work, we move forward bit by bit: just before last Christmas, we underwent the trauma of a change of clinical computer system (for the cognoscenti, iSoft Premiere to EMIS Web) — not something to be undertaken lightly! I notice last time I commented on trying to improve Mental Health Services — I think the brick wall is starting to give at last, while my head has life in it yet. Robin has just graduated (finally, with a 2:1 from a course called Creative Digital Media); Jessica is currently looking to a career in Special Needs Teaching, and is presently learning to drive. Having celebrated our Silver Wedding in June, Angie & I are starting to contemplate the “R” word — and I don’t mean redecorating. If by 35 years I’m still working, I suspect I will have an agreed retirement date that I’m working towards. As we’re still paying the mortgage at the moment, I can’t really retire just yet, nice though it would be.

One problem — a niggle 5 years ago — is some sort of neuromuscular lower-limb problems. Now it is limiting activity, I have at last looked to have something done about it: the MRI shows multi-level degenerative disease, with 2 prolapsed discs, probably contributing to the problems; this is compounded by a slight element of diabetic neuropathy, together with some disuse-related weakness in thigh muscles from (inter alia) a spell of several months when I had a lot of pain in my knees.

Still a Consultant Physician in Macclesfield - overworked and frazzled! Still a churchwarden at church but now also playing the organ regularly.

Still living with my now very elderly cat - he is on carbimazole for his thyrotoxicosis - and still making regular trips to Trinidad to visit the man in my life.

This year I also had a trip to Singapore to visit my little brother - picture shows me enjoying a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel! Other pictures include Donald the cat and Richard and me in North Wales.

I can report that I live in the same house, with the same husband, Nick and wonder if i have missed out on something over these 30 years?

Medicine still holds some importance for me, but geology is gradually overtaking my bookshelves as I complete an OU Geosciences degree. I have moved from GP to Palliative Medicine and look after Butterwick Hospice, Stockton most days of the week. Nick has retired from GP, but there are still not enough days in week to fit in all we would like to do!

Our eldest, Peter, has graduated from Coventry Uni, in Disaster Management and now plans to travel the world ..again...with his girlfiend. Will, has just returned from his second long elective in Vietnam and Australia and enters his final year at Sheffield Medical School. Edward hopes to study Engineering and awaits his A2 results and has just returned from Venezuela. How do these young ones manage so many trips?

Eventually, we hope to travel to the Lake District to look for interesting rocks!

We have now moved to North Wales and are living in Colwyn Bay overlooking the Welsh hills and coast. I’m still in my temporary job where I’ve now been for 10 years and have recently survived a reorganisation. I am the Deputy Medical Director for the NHS in North Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board. I also have a temporary part-time job as a GP in Conwy, where I have worked for 13 years. Teresa works as my driver and holds the family together. I can’t drive because my vision is impaired. Our daughter Laura is now working as an F2 doctor in Abergavenney. Matthew, our son, has just finished university at Durham and hasn’t a clue what he wants to do next so he lies around the house. When he’s not doing that, he surfs, walks and skis.

My ambition is now to retire as soon as funds will allow. We would like to spend a few years somewhere warmer, sunnier and drier, such as Mallorca where we are now languishing on holiday. Sorry that we will miss the reunion as a consequence.

Well although 5 yrs has flown past- and Chris and I are still in the same jobs, living in the same house, there have been many changes in our family.

Our eldest daughter, Becki, has married and now has 2 sons ( 3yrs and 18mths)- and being grandparents is fantastic! Lots of fun and keeps us on our toes.Sadly they live in Aberdeenshire so we do not see as much of them all as we would like, but skype is great for regular catchups.

Our second daughter, Jessie, has just become engaged and is due to marry in September next year- so lots more to plan .All very exciting ( and expensive!!). She is in the final year of her second degree- this time training to be an OT.

Rachel, our youngest has just started her final year at Newcastle- and is enjoying student life there just as much as I did. She has just had a fabulous summer working on a Marine Turtle Research project in Cyprus.

I am lucky enough to still be doing a job I really enjoy- it is always interesting, varied and often challenging .Still a GP in rural Cumbria- with more sheep than patients! I finally managed to secure funding for a new purpose built health centre for Shap from the SHA- and we moved in almost 3 yrs ago. It is fab! Especially after years of hot desking and the dispensary operating from a corridor!We have solar panels for hot water and ground source heat pumps to heat the building....or not- depending on how well the technology works!

So all in all, life is good.

Krysia is well ahead of the game, most people get to do cross-stitching in their 90s, she’s achieved it at 53! Most of her time is waiting for her daughters to contact her to go shopping (not sure if she’s yet realised their ulterior motive), or the opportunity to give her son more petrol money.

Enjoys home visits now – after a mid life crisis she bought a sporty soft top – though hasn’t mastered the art of getting it above 30mph. Senior partner in leafy-ish Eaglescliffe, hasn’t quite got the retirement bug yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

No empty nester, but earnestly getting to the bottom of all the cupboards and clearing out after 25 years of child rearing. (Secretly waiting for grandchildren so she can fill them again.)

Life for Paul is just sheer frustration – always outdone by those around him - the kids are cleverer than him , they own faster, better cars, which they bring home so he can wash and get them serviced. But they do so appreciate his expertise in grammar when it comes to university assignments. Sad that his birding comes last after all other life’s responsibilities. Indeed, Paul has now also come to accept that do lists from Krysia are a reality and cannot be shunned. Krysia is actually quite pleased with Paul’s DIY skills – he is even talking of mastering the art of plumbing and joinery after retirement from general practice in 6 years, 4 months 2 weeks and 1day – not that he’s counting.

In the meantime he funds the success of the whole family. “What Car” magazines pile high. He always called moving to Darlington a “right decision” – so Yarm will do nicely, a cottage in Craster the icing on the cake!

So in summary, happily married , 3 fantastic kids ( 2 medics , 1 psychologist) . All in good health. Still a GP in Middlesbrough. All he needs now is that Golf GTI!

I am still in a very happy partnership in Morpeth where we practice old fashioned family centred general practice. No partner has ever left before retiring and I have no plans to break this tradition. My sessions there have increased as the boys have flown the nest and I no longer have an excuse to be part time. Last year I trained as an appraiser and am thoroughly enjoying this role.

Richard built up a very successful architecture business with over 100 employees but it became increasingly challenging and 2 years ago he made the brave decision to leave the business and set up on his own. He remains very busy but is his own boss and much happier working as a conservation architect and for private clients on house designs/extensions.

We spend most of our weekends at Newton by the Sea sailing and walking our dogs.

The boys are still a joy. Clem finished his degree in Outdoor Adventure Management at Southampton last year and is now living the dream working in the ski industry. We have had him home this summer where he has been working for his father and learning French in preparation for a management job in Courchevel next season. Rupert is in a year out in industry as a commercial surveyor in Leeds this year, then back to Bristol for his final year. In their spare time they risks their lives and keep my orthopaedic colleagues busy – see photographs which are all of the boys and our dogs as I hate having my photograph taken!

Richard and I are cycling in Tuscany over the reunion weekend but we will think of you all over a glass or two of chianti!

Still senior partner in general practice but now have been almost 3 years in our purpose built practice (together with 3 other surgeries) in Harrogate. Its heaven, well it would be if I wasnt working so hard. I now work 4 very full days a week and since we moved have pushed the practice into teaching students. We now have years 1-3 from Leeds University in the practice on a regular basis and I am also a personal tutor to students in years 3 4 and 5. Spent a very interesting day examining for OSCE finals this year. It keeps me sane and stops me moaning(a bit) about the endless admin.

Richard and I celebrated 30 years of marriage last month with a small party and going away on our summer holiday by ourselves for the first time in 23 years. It was great! I’m still singing, gyming, gardening and going to the odd Boro match when the others cant attend.

All 3 children were at University this last year and we had a very special day when Jonny graduated in Medicine in the Kings Hall. He is now working at Wansbeck for the next 2 years. David has done 3 years at Leeds but is now going to intercalate and do a degree in sports science so the plan to retire in 2 is looking a bit dodgy. Jess is doing psychology at Northumbria so we have multiple trips across the Tyne to help move in and out of various accommodation.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in October

I live in Brisbane with Jon, who is now Director of Liver Transplant, and our two youngest, Dominic & Daniel both of whom study at The University of Queensland. That will seem odd to UK parents but the tradition in Australia is that kids often stay in their home city for tertiary study. Anyway they are happy & doing well. Emma, our Geordie born eldest, recently did a stint in the UK but now lives in Sydney where she develops ipad publications.

I still enjoy general practice, particularly so because I work part time. I also appreciate the opportunity I have to be involved as a tutor in the MBBS postgraduate course. I learn heaps in the process too.

We've done a bit of sailing in the Pacific, last year we went from Western Samoa to Fiji. Quite a trip, and seasickness certainly marred some of it, but altogether a great adventure with beautiful islands, coral etc.

Looking forward to my UK trip later this year.

Following retirement earlier this year we have moved to Durham . I married Tracy in 2010 and we’re now happily watching and guiding our 5 children to realize their own wonderful dreams.

Enjoying lots of walking and photography and plan to keep otherwise busy managing our various properties in the UK, Bahrain, Oman and UAE.

Sorry we shall miss the Reunion weekend due to other prearranged activities but wish you all a great time reminiscing with lots of laughter and sanguine reflection!.

In the last five years…

Katy, alive and well in Bristol, became a physics teacher, married Olly and had the first grandson Gus. Buy shares in EasyJet now. Anna got a first in psychology at Sheffield, moved to London with boyfriend Robbie and is building up clinical CV to do PhD. David married Jo and has just become the next generation of Dr Galloway working in Dudley. Try not to be ill in the West Midlands just yet. Sarah is doing chemistry at Oxford and Joel veterinary in London. Empty nesting is fun. And tidy.

Ian completed his Theology Masters in Durham and is contemplating a PhD. The church keeps growing, particularly our social action work. We started our fourth new church, this time in Auckland New Zealand which means that Ian has been there six times in the last five years. If you fancy a religious experience as part of the reunion, we are within staggering distance of the Pitcher and Piano (www.city-church.co.uk) and meet at the relatively civilised hour of 10.30am.

Heather is keeping cheerful, despite endless government meddling and other chronic conditions that General Practice seems to suffer. She commissions sexual health, teaches wide eyed medical students and dispenses well-being on all sides.

The faithful dog died, but unfortunately not yet all the rabbits.

We’ve taken up scuba-diving, but only in warm places like Oman.

Still married to Rod, we celebrated our 30th anniversary earlier this year. Still working as part time GP in Chatteris in Cambridgeshire Fens. Twin sons Edward and Alastair are now 15 years old and have encouraged me to do lots of things I would not have done without them, including cycle stunts resulting in a month off work with wrist injury. I now just stick to plain off road cycling. Living in a small rural village with very limited public transport I spend a lot of time running a taxi service for said sons. I am also safety backup for Ed’s fire spinning activities. (That’s the one with a bucket of water large fire blanket and first aid kit.) When I get any spare time I try to be creative in the fibre arts with spinning dyeing weaving and felting.

Best wishes for a good weekend, sorry I am not able to join you all.

It seems like yesterday when we had the twenty year reunion in 2002, and here we are ten years later and all looking a little older. I am busy in GP Practice in Great Dunmow working three eleven hour days a week excluding extended hours and the usual lunchtime meetings. I have taken over the Diabetes care in the Practice as the Senior Partner is winding down before retirement. I also share the IUCD /Mirena and Nexplanon insertions with one other doctor. We have an FY2 and two ST3s in the Practice who keep us on our toes. The local commissioning steering committee organised a shutdown last week so that we could all air our views .

On a more personal note I have two boys at University and a daughter aged thirteen in year 9 choosing GCSE options.

Parents are ageing gracefully, mercifully well enough to live in their own home.The photo below was taken at my mother's recent 80th birthday celebration. The photo behind me is the restaurant owner!

I have managed to tick several more boxes since the last reunion. Older, fatter, greyer, more niggling aches and pains. I am also undergoing a process of continuing critical appraisal from my three opinionated 12 year old sons. Apparently I may need some form of remediation in the children's unmet needs area before they are able to revalidate me, and issue my licence to parent for the next 5 years. On the whole though life is pretty good, I have even managed to reduce my work hours recently.This has lead to comments from many of my friends that I wasn't doing that many to start with! I have however had to come to terms with the fact that it is becoming increasingly unlikely that I will ever get my golf handicap down to single figures. Samantha has just started work as a biology teacher. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone in October.

It is wonderful to read all your year book entries, and to see how, and where, you and your families are.

I have not had a good 5 years since we last met up in 2007.

2008 was a critical year for me. In September i had a wonderful time climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. When I got back, however, I hit rock bottom and became very depressed. Following a serious suicide attempt I came to the realisation that i am an alcoholic. 8 months later I resigned from my practice and went to rehab for 6 months.

Since then it has been a difficult journey. I am medically retired and do some voluntary work inbetween AA meetings.

Life is good mostly, I have 2 wonderful sons who are doing well at uni in Edinburgh. My eldest is doing a masters in mechanical engineering, and my youngest is doing Applied sport Science. They are both still in my life, for which I am very grateful, especially given the harrowing times they have been through.

I have my life and my health back which is a great blessing. As to the future..who knows. I live in the day.

I won’t be at the reunion but send my love and good wishes to you all.

I’ve not moved from my Consultant Obs & Gynae post in Sunderland where I started in 1994. Now a ‘senior clinician’ (..aren’t we all!!) with added years under my belt and retirement looming in 2019 (unless a large Euro lottery win forces an earlier move!) Continue my interest in high-risk obstetrics and became Director of Research for the Trust in 2010. Still doing quite a bit for the RCOG…. I’ve chaired various committees including Specialty Education & Assessment and presently the Curriculum committee. I lecture nationally & internationally and continue with an avid interest in training on various obstetric ‘skills/drills’ courses.

My wife Karen, who several of you knew well, died in November 2009 from recurrent breast cancer. Life has been very different and a lot busier since then…. bringing up two daughters (Lauren and Abbie) who were 9 and 17 at the time. They’ve done very well and have supported their father and survived his cooking over the last 2 years!! Life does move on and I’m now happily engaged to Lesley who has two children herself and works as a midwife in Sunderland…. I may only make it to a few hours of the ‘gathering’ so all the best to all of you and have a great time.

I've now been a Consultant Radiologist in Lincoln for over 20 years, with an interest in Chest Radiology and Nuclear Medicine; I've been Clinical Lead, awarded BAMM Advanced Medical Leader (just before their demise!) and recently elected RCR Regional Chairman - bits and bobs to keep me active, but what I'm really looking forward to is retirement planning, like most of my (sensible) peers I expect.

Anyhow, that's enough said about medicine - it's been a fun journey but there is more to life, I've been told! My son William is studying Medicine at Leeds University and has just completed his first year; my daughter Rebecca is studying for a nursing degree and will have delivered our first grandchild by the time of the re-union. To celebrate becoming 'Grandpa' I've just grown a goatee and hope one day to be able to decorate this with beads. I imagine myself as a silver fox, but my family liken me to a dead badger. I must have lived in Lincolnshire too long.

My other notable life achievement is to have been 'Best Man" on 3 occasions. This is notable because I didn't realise I had 3 friends.

I've not returned to Geordie-land too often but did manage a 'Motorheed' concert at the City Hall, to assist my geordie cousin on security. I still keep up with John Otway live and am seeing Bru-uce (the Boss) in June. Big on Bob and Waits. Missed out on Mumford &Sons tickets for the Sage Concert; keen on Laura Marling. I've also maintained my passion for films and am a member of Lincoln Film Society, so I can be a real bore discussing subtitled films over pints of Landlord or gallons of wine. I have a real passion for sport. I love watching Wimbledon and drinking Pimms. I can't run.

Chris and I are celebrating our 25th Wedding anniversary at the time of the re-union and will be somewhere in the Black Sea, I'm told. So I can't make it again, but I've enjoyed reading about you all and seeing the photos. Fond memories of great times for me. I wish you all the best and thanks to the 'locals' for organising the re-union events

30 years on, I’ve worked out that I usually get things right second time around.

After a brief foray into consultant life in Lancashire (Burnley), I crossed the border into Yorkshire in 1997. I’ve now been at Airedale for 15 years as a consultant in respiratory medicine, and have had the inevitable and unpopular senior management roles laid at my door. Work is tough, and getting busier all the time, but with occasional glimpses of enjoyment and job satisfaction. My second wife, Gail, works part time as a GP in Skipton and we have 2 daughters, both at the local high school. My older 3 girls (Elspeth, Imogen and Naomi) have diverse non-medical careers, and Elspeth has provided me with my first grandson (Archie) two years ago.

With 5 daughters and a wife with expensive tastes, retirement is pencilled in for 2030…..

I enjoy living in the Dales, and make the most of the local countryside on my bikes (mainly road biking these days) and walking. This year’s great north run will be my 12th. I still play football, but with less and less skill and speed, I suspect I am tolerated as a senior colleague….

Gail and I enjoy spending increasing amounts of time with our girls in our cottage in Brittany. We plan to spend even longer and drinking even more wine there when we retire.

Annual skiing trips and occasional long distance bike rides with Mark Walker, Los Atkinson and Stephen Tate provide very welcome male company, keep me sane and help me appreciate the benefits of air fresheners and ear plugs.

Overall, life is good, and I am very fortunate.

These reunions seem to get closer together or is that yet another sign of impending senility, and I’m sure I wasn’t as immature as the medical students i teach now …..

Over the last few reunions I have been impressed by peoples year book entries, reading about their excitingl and fulfilled lives, their adrenaline fuelled past times, their globe trotting holidays and sabbaticals. Awed and maybe a little jealous after the last reunion I ruminated about yet another metamorphosis. It was a hard and painful journey, requiring many months of training, forcing my complaining and broken body beyond what I thought was possible. Days spent alone in the most inclement of weathers (I was unaccounted for for 2 days in particularly bad weather in Borrowdale.) Was it worth it? well yes because I got through a very rigorous selection process and was selected to represent Great Britain in the Santa Claus world Championships in Samnaun, Switzerland. It’s a sort of festive modern heptathlon involving a variety of alpine pursuits. We were really pleased to be in a medal position until the last event which was karaoke in the beer tent when we unfortunately bombed.

Aside from all the above am I still working as a GP in Sunniside? Still married to Sarah? Still in that semi in Whickham with a large nettle infested garden??...well rather surprisingly yes, yes and yes.

The two eldest, Kate and James got married within 2 months of each other last year which was a bit of a shock to the old bank balance but we all had rather a good time, I started a new tradition by dancing with my brother (to the killers-clearing the dance floor at the same time-the inevitable video ‘went viral’) . The youngest, Ben is in London, a perpetual student who still regularly inhabits his old room at our house (girlfriend still lives down the road) Oh and about 9 months after he got married James and his wife Cat produced an heir to the Hunt dynasty .

The empty space left by the kids has been replaced in part by 2 dysfunctional border collies who have cost more in vets and psychologist fees than all 3 kids put together And to stave off any midlife crisis we bought a cottage next to a raging torrent in Cumbria and spend many happy weekends and what little cash that remains on repairing the river bank.

We are really looking forward to the reunion and catching up with everybody there.

I am still married to my first husband, Richard, and moved to our dream house in Corbridge two years ago. Our daughter Alicia is 15 and will be sitting her GCSEs next summer. Dominic is 12 and wants to be a computer games designer when he leaves school.

After working in Paediatrics, Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Postgraduate Medical Education, Public Health and Public Health Genetics, I decided it was time to retire! Four years ago, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung – not what you expect when you have never smoked a single cigarette. My work on Tobacco Control, in the lead up to Smoke Free Legislation even led to me being branded “a fanatical anti- smoking zealot” by the Chief Executive of Forrest (the tobacco industry lobbying group) in one of the Sunday newspapers. After a course of chemotherapy I took up running for the first time in years and ran the Sunderland 10K for “Maggie’s North East” and “Lifespan”. However the running had to stop after I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, and needed a vertebroplasty of T8!

Being retired has its advantages – more time with the kids, and the chance to fulfil life time ambitions. In May this year I flew to Lhasa in Tibet with Richard. After seeing the sights of Lhasa and climbing to the roof of the Potala Palace we travelled by Land cruiser through central Tibet and took a detour to Everest Base camp at 5200 m. The Tibetans call it Mount Qomolangma. We travelled back by road to Kathmandu. Those of you who spent time in Kathmandu, at the end of your electives in 1980 may be interested to know that Century Lodge and it’s section of Freaky Street are roped off as a monument to the hippie days!

Still a GP in Tyneside married to Jane recently celebrating our 30 yr wedding anniversary returning to the place of our honeymoon in Mull. 2 children have flown the nest, Jonathan now working in Melbourne and Kate about to start a PhD in fine art in Newcastle. We are very grateful to Skype but have learnt the art of flying to Australia (noise cancelling headphones!) The practice has grown somewhat with the team now running a local Walk-In Centre and, jointly with a local FT, running a rehab unit. I have been trying my best to develop federated working with local GP practices but have simply confirmed the ‘herding cats’ theory.

Jane and I enjoy walking our Border Collie in the Lakes heading for our Eden Valley barn conversion as often as we can. Gardening also is now recreational. Great North Run will feature again this year and enjoyed the C2C cycle ride recently. Climbing Mont Blanc with Kate was wonderful and the Edinburgh Marathon as a family was fun. We have renovated our family home of 25 years from 4 bedrooms to 3. No plans to retire yet—but reducing sessions appeals and ideally some new challenge beyond simply surviving NHS reforms. We are still actively involved in our church in Sunderland and run a café each week for international students which we love.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the reunion!

My main professional highlights in the last five years have been Chairing UK Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists and completing second edition of a cardiac anaesthesia textbook. Day time work at Papworth remains enjoyable but the onerous night and weekend work is less appealing. Keeping the dream alive that book royalties will allow me to drop night call in five years time. The reality will probably be much later!

No recent personal sporting achievements of note, though I still enjoy competing towards the back of the field with illustrious former BDS members of ‘Medics Gonad XV’ inaugural 1981 Great North Run team. Tim Macpherson occasionally drops in when commuting between Essex and his Scottish smallholding.

My wife Helen (MBBS 1984) continues as a principal in General Practice where she spends considerably more time talking to her patients than me. William (23) and Katherine (21) have now left our Cambridgeshire home. William works as a petroleum engineer in Sunbury and is a sub-70 minute half marathon runner. Katherine is entering her clinical years in Oxford where she very much enjoys the University hockey scene. Poppy, our energetic three-year old spaniel helps keep us fit.

Sadly unable to make the Reunion due to pre-arranged vacation in New England. I hope you all have a splendid time.

At the last reunion Chris and I had to dash up to Edinburgh for Becky to start her vet degree. She is now fully qualified and working at Westway in Newcastle and living in Jesmond. Doesn't time fly!

Daniel has decided to follow in his parents footsteps and is now a third-year medic in Edinburgh.

Amy has just started sixth form doing Art, Drama, Psychology and English-definitely not taking after her parents!

I am still a partner at Whitley Bay Health Centre and Chris is still in Morpeth. He continues to be a trainer and is working with the RCGP on the licensing exam.

We meet up with the girls regularly and had a good week eating and drinking to excess at Sally Thompson's house in Normandy last September.

Trying to keep fit playing badminton and fell walking. We have one new family member as when Becky left, Storm a huge yellow lab moved in (much to the cats disgust) and takes us for lots of walks!

A huge thank you to Judy for allowing me to “persuade” her to help with this reunion. Her negotiation skills are amazing and she has saved us all lots of money!

We hope everyone has a wonderful time.

I am still Director of European Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance with a local Pharmaceutical Company in Cambridge, which I combine with part-time General Practice. Anne continues to enjoy her position on the Addenbrookes neonatal intensive care unit.

Kate is just starting her fourth year at Sheffield Medical School, and like me remains puzzled by the insistence on spending as much time reflecting on learning as learning itself! Emily has just returned from voluntary work at an orphanage in Sri Lanka, and some travelling in Thailand and Cambodia, before she starts Pharmacy at Cardiff University in September. (I was sure she had promised that she wouldn’t go to any Full Moon parties whilst she was away?) Jessica has just finished her AS levels, and has sore feet today after completing her Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition in Snowdonia.

We recently took a step back in time to see The Stranglers, a band we last saw at Medical School. The band have local connections with the village and remarkably remain almost unchanged.... it’s only the audience that seemed to have grown older!

We still spend perhaps too much time on the water, racing dinghies at local and national competitions, bare-boat charters in Greece, Croatia and Turkey, and the annual NHS Regatta with the Addenbrookes team. This year I satisfied a long held ambition by completing the Round the Island Race, as skipper of a chartered Sigma 38 with seven friends. The race is one of the largest yacht races in the world with over 1,700 boats and 16,000 sailors, and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs. This year’s race also happened to be one of the roughest in recent years, providing a busy day for the RNLI, and several exciting and life defining moments!

Looking to the future, we hope to have the chance to return to New Zealand to spend some more time working in Auckland. Looking back, it doesn’t seem so long since our “Class of 82” year photograph on the RVI lawn........... meanwhile retirement seems to stretch ever further away over the horizon.

Can’t believe it is five years since the last reunion. I am still a GP in Ponteland and surrounding rural area 400 square miles to be precise a fabulous place to work. Very happily married to Charlie with three wonderful boys Charlie (Maths Warwick) Cameron (gap year then pharmacy) and Robert (starting sixth form then probably engineering). After years of trying to persuade my children to do dance and art they all chose chemistry. I did however manage to put them all off medicine by moaning about practice politics and always being on call when they were small. So none of them have or had any desire to do medicine which is quite sad as I am a third generation GP on both sides and love my job.

The younger boys and I still run with Elswick harriers, usually running at least 3 times per week but I am totally non-competitive now, more chatting and jogging. This year, I am sure you are all pleased to hear, I finally achieved a Gold medal in talking after years of practice but my running suffered as a consequence. Although I did start doing Park runs where I bumped into loads of medics and a few from our year much faster than me! I also enjoy playing tennis where I am forbidden from talking and aerobics where I sometimes stand next to Kath Mannix where talking is compulsory. Still enjoying gardening although this year the vegetable patch has been a disaster with rabbits, heavy rain, slugs and lack of sun. But I did win first prize for my raspberries at the Ponteland show.

At last!!! Better late than never!! and fashionably very late as ever!

I missed the 20yr reunion and I was not going to miss this one!!

May I start by thanking the organising commitee for their usual hard work!! Same people that have kept the year going right from medical school! Some of us were born leaders and some are just followers!! I know my place.

After 20 years I am still a Consultant in Critical Care Medicine and Anaesthesia at Nottingham University Hospital. I work in a busy 45 bed unit and make a guest appearance one day a week, as an anaesthetist in Thoracic Surgery!

I have masterly kept out of Hospital politics by playing dumb so that I will not be bothered with any position that involves endless meetings. Hence I keep my head down do what is necessary to keep the pay cheque coming.

Married to a very tolerant wife, Linda with 2 teeenage kids Sophie 17, Zach 15 and little (not) Alex 12.The usual family dynamics goes on here though I have perfected a very good method of coping.....(shutting the door behind my own space and letting them get on with it) They do appreciate me and Linda as money machines and good taxi drivers. I try to remind them that money does not grow on trees in our back garden but to no avail!

In my sapre time I pay my dues to David LLoyd Leisure amd pretend that I like going to the Gym. I am still a devoted Toon Army although I nearly reconsidered my position until last season.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in October. Before you dare ask when you see me; I do not dye my hair .. what you can see of it. It is just a 'Black' advantage.. we do not grow grey till late and all comes at once so maybe at 60th anniversary reunion!!

Well here we all are. Wonder what the craic over the reunion w/e will be ?? Retirement ? Pensions ? Divorce settlements ? or Jessica Ennis's "Six pack" ??

First up, Scottish independence. I see my prediction will soon be true. They are inexorably moving towards leaving the UK. Minority government to now majority government for the SNP. Referendum in just 2 yrs. If they vote "No" the sense of self-loathing that will follow will preclude that result hopefully. Young Scottish people see no relevance to the UK. The Scottish media, history teachers & leaders have really lost the right to stay in Britain after their behaviour over the last 2-3 decades. Ask Chris Marr & Sally Richardson about the racism their daughter suffered over her 5 year exile in Edinburgh........

Still a GP partner in Wallsend. Will never be the "senior partner", phew !! Working on my mid-life crisis & I promise myself I'm going to enjoy it all.Hope to organise a job swap with a GP in NZ, or work there for a year if i can organise it all before retiring in 2018/19.

I see Dave Talbot a fair bit & occasionally help him with his "experiments". Chris & Sally remain grateful recipients of my lightning wit & humour. I'm very generous that way.......

Have become un-official Social Secretary for all of my GP Practice. While the weekend in Grasmere was an unqualified success, the trip to Butlins at Skegness is best skated over.......

This is Nigel’s first Year Book entry since 1982

He left Newcastle in 1989 to spend 2 years as Research Senior Registrar with Professor (now famous telly Lord) Robert Winston. Had some great, boozy, Ski trips with him and the team.

Nigel had, to his surprise, taken to London as duck to water so found a SR job at The Royal London. Refereed the ongoing skirmishes between Wendy Savage and the rest of her Consultant Colleagues. Fun! Throws a good party as well.

In 1995 he was appointed Consultant in O & G in Greenwich and in Reproductive Medicine at Bart’s. Has been there ever since. In Greenwich he specialises in Perinatal Mental Health and Substance Abuse. At Bart’s: Assisted Conception, Gamete Donation and Surrogacy. He has done loads of management roles as well – Clinical Director, Associate Medical Director etcetera etcetera. Several teaching roles too – under and post graduate.

Nigel’s other main professional activities are at the Royal Society of Medicine. He has been on the Council of the Section for Quality in Healthcare for 15 years. Served as President 2006 – 2008. Has been on the Academic Board of the RSM since 2006 and on Council since 2008. Has been serving as Chair of the Board since 2010. Interesting stuff!

On a personal note he moved to Greenwich from South Kensington in 1995 and has lived there next to the Park to this day. He has been with Niall since 1997 and they had a terrific Civil Partnership Ceremony and Party in the Trafalgar by the Thames in 2006. Had two matching King Charles Spaniels but sadly no more. Only Molly the cat endures.

Main passions remain booze, fags and grub! Nigel and Niall also love sailing. They owned a yacht down on the Solent for two years but found it too cold for comfort. They have just returned from chartering a 41 footer in Turkey.

Nigel has enjoyed reading the Year Book entries and looks forward to seeing some of you this weekend. Everyone seems to look the same as 30 years ago!

I had hoped to get there but I have daughters in far flung places and am now going to be out of the UK then. Hope it all goes very well.

I am a GP in Abingdon Oxfordshire , and GP trainer and RCGP examiner.

My wife Julie and I have 3 children who are 21 19 and 16.

In my spare time I am a MAMIL sometimes, and am slowly working towards completing the Munros of Scotland, and still get to watch Newcastle Utd occasionally,and sometimes these days enjoy it..

Weekend sounds great and so tempting as I will be in Durham doing the Pennines Etape bike ride on the Sunday.. but I dont thik I can realistically get up to Newcastle in the evening (I wont have a car!) and make a crack of dawn start on the Sunday.

So I hope the weekend goes well; and maybe the 40th...?

• Finding out

I’d always wondered why I was half Indian, why Stephen and I (my twin) were adopted, why we became an aunt and uncle at 3 and a half, watching my nephews and nieces grow up. This was after our Dad died of a pulmonary embolus (5 days after anunnecessary stomach op at NGH in 1961) and we were left with my Mum, then the embarrassment of living in Killingworth council estate where the people from Byker had been rehoused, why we were born in Milnthorpe. At 19 years of age I applied to find out through Newcastle social services and I was told Ann Marilyn Robinson, my sister, was our mother. The appointment was at 4:30, there was no time for questions, so we caught a bus and went to see Marilyn that night and she said yes it was true and the father was……PO Box…Nairobi, Kenya, a doctor. We went home and told my Mum (grandmother) and she said well there was never any question you were ours and that was that. For 23 years no-one said anything until I began to ask questions and find out everything.

• Family Life in Bangkok

My 2 children Sandy (Alexander) aged 17 years and Helena aged 15 years are both a constant delight to me and Ian my husband. We still have Kai our Thai nanny.

• Medical school

I realised, as maybe did the other 2 or 3 in the year from council houses or one parent families, that I was not going to be a cleaner and read my books nightly and aimed for 4 As, since I knew I must get the 3 Bs. I was so embarrassed that I lived in Killingworth and that I was not posh. I just wanted to be unopinionated and blend in.

• Medical /doctor Thoughts

Lovely friends do not talk about retirement, we’re only aged 53 years. I have some patients in their 70s and 80s and they don’t look after their health although one had one of the first cardiac by-passes aged 48 years and they get up and go to work each day. Work that you like keeps you fit. I work in my own clinic in Thailand, where private care is accessible and affordable to all, and uses the supermarket customer service approach. One of my previous bosses at the large US company said ”Donna, private hospitals are there for reason, use them!" More and more I think about basics, I have skill/trade to treat sick people, so I see patients, take the money and close at the end of the day and I am happy that I am a doctor. I treat sick people so when I get called to ahotel on a Sunday night I think yippee, I am treating people and that’s 200 quid, we can buy this or that! I also think of all the things we didn’t learn at medical school. How to get psychotic patients to take their meds (and I have seen when they are forced against their will), they get better so do we have teach relatives how to slip it into their coffee?

• Fun

I like travelling in spite of some of the places Ian (husband) wants to visit, running, drinking, chatting with friends

Still Professor of Fetal Medicine in Newcastle and still on the obstetric on call rota (just!!). Recently taken up appointment as Clinical Director for the Northumberland Tyne and Wear Comprehensive Research Network – 2 days a week at Centre for Life (by the central Station) so much better opportunities to meet wife for lunch! Still spend too much time in London but seems the more senior you get, the more the powers that be listen (even if you know less about what you talking about!).

Still playing bridge with Stu Marsden [his bidding is not what it was] and still looking younger than Bob Spain (that hard paper round has definitely taken its toll!). Developed worrying passion for extreme sports – moved from parachuting to mountaineering & diving. Also started doing triathalons again - fortunately now classed as a veteran so half the field don’t finish anymore.

Very happily married to Sue (sister of Sally Thompson nee Wilson) – 2 boys Jamie (Cambridge, Law) and Simon (RGS, aspiring Medic – despite my advice!!].

5 years since the last reunion – a time to pause, reflect and consider how to spend those few years prior to retirement in relaxed contentment. Alternatively I can have a second mid-life crisis (the first resulted in 2 more children), go back to University and work through the night to meet assignment submission deadlines with one minute to spare. In a world full of changes I hope some of you will find comfort in the fact my mania remains as a constant.

So what have I been up to over the past 5 years?

Achievement 1 – no more children Achievement 2 – menisectomy as a result of dancing like Shakira then exacerbating it by going over handlebars of my bike when my dog stopped and I didn’t (yes, I’m one of those idiots who cycles with a dog on a lead) Achievement 3 - performing a dance routine in front of 300 people whilst dressed as Tinkerbell with 2 dancing Christmas trees and additional fairy Achievement 4 – moved into a Stately Home for 3 weeks while my house was extended and stayed 6 months Achievement 5 – had my first holiday with no children for 8 years, the highlight of which was Pete Olley cycling into sand and going over the handlebars of his bike! Achievement 6 – full page in Telegraph with my daughter extolling the virtues of HPV vaccination Achievement 7 – continue to work part time in sexual health and HIV in Sheffield and do advisory and specialist society work in London Achievement 8 – still not managed to get title of Professor, but am Undergraduate Dean for Sheffield Medical School so I’m happy with that Achievement 9 – Luke and Annabelle both at University (their achievement rather than mine, but hey I pay the fees so I deserve some credit) Achievement 10 – started night classes in French but gave up when I had to get a Chinese friend of Annabelle’s to do my homework – so maybe that doesn’t count as an achievement either Achievement 11 – continue to annoy Sally, Sally, Judy and Cath with my inability to plan or commit to anything until the last moment Achievement 12 – last one to send in year book entry?

Looking forward to seeing those who are coming to reunion and hearing news from the rest who can’t make it – hope you are all having a good life

I have spent the last several years as a GP in Tyneside with no lofty ambitions to be a research scientist, clinical director , medical politician , world leader ...or complete the Great North Run. Hence I’m keeping my head down and trying to avoid being dragged any more than I must into commissioning , appraisal, revalidation, pointless and moving QOF targets, CQC, QIPP, COF [ and the numerous other bureaucratic annoyances that take us away from seeing patients] that are thrown at us by what should be called ­ Strategic Health Implementation Teams.

Nevertheless I’m enjoying my tennis and still competing in a mixed singles league and have become an aficionado of zumba . Like half the year I have an annual alpine holiday but after years of finely honing my skiing skills I have reached a plateau – it’s all downhill from here.

John and I and the kid/s frequently travel to Singapore to visit the parents and try to add on a side trip to other Asian destination- most recently Thailand a couple of times and Vietnam.

Tom, 22, graduated with a first in economics and is now working in London . [ our house is a lot tidier since]. Genevieve , 15, is still at school in Newcastle and keeps me fairly busy on chauffeur duties. We had a free preview of the Olympic Stadium in May when she competed for the North East in the ‘Schools Olympics’.

30 years .....! 30 years of Christmas dinners with the girls [Sally, Sally, Catherine and Karen]. I look forward to another 30. Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing the rest of you in October.

Still in Perth, still working 4 day week, still living beyond our means and never going to stop.

We have visited Europe twice a year for the last 3 to see various children at overseas universities.

Both boys now flown the coop, but visit often for food/beer, both girls becoming great cooks.

Healthwise all good, hobbywise Alison is learning Spanish in preparation for a visit which will prevent us from being at the reunion. Nick enjoys photographing and then consuming interesting street food and local dishes when travelling.

I have been a GP in York for 12 years, now senior partner – a sign of the age rather than wisdom. I still love medicine despite the changes and hope my son enjoys it as much as I have – Paul has just completed his elective in Africa with a trio of tropical diseases before entering his final year in Sheffield.

Having mentioned an interest in mental health I was encouraged to become involved in clinical commissioning. Despite initial misgiving I am enthused at the possibly of improving patient care, and particularly enjoy my role with public and patient engagement,

Outside work I am still married to Ian, 28yrs, and a confirmed country bumpkin. Our 3-acre plot keeps us supplied in fruit, veg, eggs, and meat.

Still working as a GP in a rural practice in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. For a while I had become very involved in GP commissioning but saw the light 2 yrs ago and resigned. I still enjoy the clinical work but find the politics and management of the NHS increasingly burdensome and tiring.

I remarried (Thelma) 6 years ago and moved a few hundred yards up the road to a very dilapidated old Victorian House which we have only fairly recently completed renovating. I still enjoy fishing and shooting though find I have very little spare time for the fishing. No longer playing squash- dodgy knee. Children are just starting their final year at University. Jonathan is at Northumbria studying computerised Product Design and Rebecca is at Durham studying Accountancy and business studies. Continue to go skiing every year.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion weekend

It is great to catch up with the news from so many from the class of 82.

Like several of you, I have found the last 5 years eventful but not necessarily easy.

Firstly, I separated from my husband, Kenneth, in 2009. He now lives on the farm while my sons and I live next door. The separation has been amicable which has been important to both of us.

With change comes opportunity...and 2010 saw me taking up a Locum Appointment for Training in palliative medicine in the Northern Deanery. It was strange but lovely to be back in Newcastle studying after 28 years! It also meant meeting some familiar faces.. Gill, Bruce and family, Kath Mannix and Dave Talbot and Jo. The aim of the training has been to get on to the specialist register for palliative medicine. I am now struggling to put all my evidence into a CESR application, which I plan to send in the next 24 hours...

Then earlier this summer I was diagnosed with a screen detected early breast cancer. Following surgery and radiotherapy I am well, tired, but proud of the NHS. I am now back working in Cumbria, hopefully as a consultant soon.

I had every intention of coming to Vujon's, but my phased return to work and CESR have caught up with me. Which makes me even more determined to see you all at the 35th Reunion!

Have a wonderful weekend. And a big thank you to all the organisers.

Yes I am still in Newcastle and still at the Freeman hospital. Reaching that age where thoughts of mid life crisis give way to when to retire! Being painfully aware of those that have retired early that are nice to talk to but lets face it are a bit boring. So I have no wish at present to follow their lead though the recovery from being up at night seems slightly worse!

I got another shot at a mid life opportunity however when a round robin e mail asked for volunteers to get involved in a round the world race with a company called Clipper which was set up by Robin Knox Johnston. This is available to anyone who has the time and the money (about £50k and a year or £10k and a month). Seeing as there was a modest excuse- in the aid of Transplant and donation it felt a unique opportunity. So after the family agreed I had 4 weeks of training which was spread out and started in September 2010 and finished in July 2011. Then the actual trip occurred in October 2011 between Cape Town and Geraldton. It was quite a unique experience and I would recommend it to anyone but it was pretty hard, cold, basic and at times a little scary! If you ask for the single best moment it is rather an unfair question because there were lots of times which were great but the best single moment was getting off!

Otherwise my wife Jo is still doing speech therapy is secretary for the local choir and is keen on her allotment. My daughter is at Bristol doing English and at the time of writing is one of the volunteers for the Olympics. My son Ben is still at school with one more year to go but wants to do medicine so I must be pretty positive about the whole thing!

As well as the research stuff I do, I also try and create experiments at home some of which work and some don’t. For example a home made green house with a self watering system for tomatoes which worked there but not when I replicated it in my attic and the water came through the ceiling. Fortunately Jo was away as it ran into her side of the bed! A water solar panel on the roof which apart from two leaks has been pretty successful. I have recently discovered e bay which I think is fantastic for buying big mad things like a huge outboard motor which I had to fix first but now is pretty awesome. My most recent acquisition was an E class Mercedes for £900. This can take me to some interesting parts of the country and meet some whacky people so I would recommend it!

So no I don’t think I have changed much since 1982 but my projects have got crazier!

I am still part time GP in Long Buckby, senior partner these days! Still enjoy training registrars, F2s and medical students.

Boys all well. Charlie now a vet working in NW, Richie working at Cosworth engineering, Andrew at HYMS, loving medical school and keener to read my BMJs than me ! Harry just left school, fingers crossed for A2 results.

Photo shows a recent ski holiday Easter 2012 with Steve Robson and cousin Jamie

It seems so little time has passed since I wrote the last entry for the yearbook but thinking about things in a little more depth (not too much!) makes me realize that Jane and I have had some great experiences in that time. Life has been kind so far (touch wood).

We are lucky enough to have travelled and trekked, personal highlights have been experiencing the Silverback Gorillas in the Rwandan Jungle, the Everest Base Camp Trek, the tough Andean Huayhuash Circuit in Peru, Mount Kenya and cycling across Kerala in Southern India.

Family wise, our daughters, Jem (26) and Jess (23) have navigated University and some how both have ended up in Internet Marketing.

Jane has more than filled the nest by bringing in a rather shaggy, larger than life, character called Rufus (an Airedale Terrier) whose main enjoyment is launching himself at me when I come home from work.

Work in General Practice remains both challenging and demanding. Fortunately it is still fulfilling and I am in a good partnership. I also enjoy being a GP Trainer.

I find peace in the Cumbrian Fells, usually being half dragged around by Rufus quite often wondering whether I’m on the right path.

K

I am still a part-time GP in Spennymoor, still the diabetes lead and now the senior partner. It’s a busy training practice and mostly enjoyable. Mark and I are now almost empty nesters. With two of our children in London, I seem to spend most of my life on the train. Alice (23) works for a brand management consultancy, and James (21) has a theoretical physics BSc from Imperial where he is about to start a Masters. Adam (18) will go to Durham to read natural sciences in October just 10 minutes away from work (I’ve promised not to drop in unannounced).

In 2009 my self diagnosed IBS was found to be Crohn’s disease (cue-lots of jokes about old crone disease from the boys). I blame my weight gain on the steroids rather than middle age spread and too much red wine. Anyway, as I tell my patients “if you take the tablets, you do get better”!

I’m looking forward to the curry evening but I regret that Mark will be at the dinner without me as I will be on a girls’ weekend trip to Tuscany learning how to cook Italian food (and drinking more wine!). Best wishes to you all.

Mark

Five years older and a little bit wiser. My job is unchanged and remains largely good fun. I head the Newcastle Clinical Research Facility that supports early phase research across a broad range of clinical specialties. I was recently appointed chair to the committee that organises the European diabetes association annual scientific conference. With over 17,000 delegates, it can get a bit hairy. Away from work I enjoy family life and annual boys’ ski/cycle trips, and I try to keep fit through the Newcastle parkrun.

The last decade has been about growing up, growing older, and facing mortality sooner than expected

Re-married the lovely Maureen on the same day as last time (07.07.07) – very happy. Amber the Golden Retriever brought us together again, but sadly she has developed autoimmune arthritis and is fading quickly.

Sold my Honda Blackbird 1200cc motorbike and 300bhp Subaru Impreza WRX STI, settled instead for a Lexus Jeep RX 450h – a comfortable fast armchair with 2 hybrid motors.

Daughter Rachel working as a graphic designer in Oxford Street, living with boyfriend. Son James working as an accountant for BT, living with girlfriend.

I was head of the acute and chronic pain service in Coventry for the last 17 years – no psychology support and therefore rather disillusioned and burnt out. Developed Rigid Akinetic Syndrome (Younger version of Parkinsonism’s) in 2009 – DAT scan showed 75% loss of basal ganglia on both sides. Couldn’t carry on with pain work – who would want to be attacked by a tremulous needle-wielding pain consultant. Had a year off sick, then medically retired on tier 2 pension after that, followed by voluntary erasure from GMC. Had a psychotic reaction to Ropinirole (Dopamine agonist) – apparently quite common – not much fun seeing your old patients whilst as a patient yourself. Much better on L-dopa – left arm and leg much weaker than right side.

The Pain Clinic website keeps me busy – see www.painclinic.org - please click on [Make a Donation] to donate to the Parkinson’s charity – all my own work.

I enjoy photography care of our German friends at Leica – but now need a tripod (Parkinson’s photographic joke !!!). I thank God each day that I can still drive – not getting out of the house is a killer. I thank him daily for my loving wife Maureen, who is a constant source of support. I also thank the pharmaceutical company Lilly for making Cialis, which gives me support in another area. Oh – and the Dignitas brochure is in the bottom drawer of my desk – for when the time is right (when the Cialis stops working !!!)

Wishing you all the best for the future

Regards

Richard Stephen Walker (The better looking one of the two)

I am still working at North Tyneside General Hospital with an interest in Parkinson's disease. Since the last reunion I have become an Honorary Professor in Ageing and International Health and lead on Global Health in the Newcastle curriculum. I manage to get to Tanzania at least once a year to follow up on research projects and also the Trust link with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical centre from where we host medical elective students each year. I chair the Movement Disorders Society African Task Force.

Rosie is nw 16, Jessica 13, Ben 10 and William 8 ( 9 on reunion weekend) so Carrie and I are very much in taxi service stage. The boys have had the misfortune of inheriting being Newcastle United supporters so the 3 of us now have season tickets. I still manage to play 5-a-side football and tennis, though getting steadily worse at both and the injury sidelines are more frequent and lengthy.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Last as usual! [Oh no you aren't. Alan] I see even Richard and Gillian managed to get in before me. It is reaasuring that some things never change.

Yes I am still married to the eccentric theatre man who is trying his best to move back to Newcastle. He helped to restore the Theatre Royal last year and appeared on Look North, as some of you may have seen! Our Georgian pile in North Yorkshire is still in the process of restoration also, but we are almost there (I hope). Its now time to sell up and enjoy ourselves!

I have found a new career in GUM. I don’t know why I didn’t do it years ago! I love the job, my colleagues and most of the patients. It is much less stressful than General Practice. My Mum is very embarrassed about it, and my children call me the Sex Doctor. I mainly work in Harrogate but sometimes in York and Northallerton.

Our three children are all still at home, one having been to Uni and come back and the other two are still at school. Anna (the eldest) graduated in Psychology at Northumbria this year and is about to go to do a ski season in France before deciding what next . (I am very envious). Katie is applying for Biology next year, but is really more interested in being on Broadway, and Robert is almost 14, plays Xbox and rugby and has just discovered girls.

Who knows, by the time of the next reunion we may be back in Newcastle. Thank you so much to the organisers. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone.

I am really sorry I won’t be with you on Saturday - my Son is following my tradition of being a fairy that night, or at least half of one!! (As Strephon in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe)

Love of music runs right through our family. Andrew’s band White Psychic Circles, reached the Northern finals of the Next Brit Thing( can be listened to on I-Tunes). I still play at singing in a band while the kids do it properly!

Last year I took the family to up-country Kenya back to the Hospital I worked in 25yrs ago. It has really changed and progressed as it seems I had too. I was greeted with ”Oh Dr Al-ee-son the years have changed you -so stout!” I blame it on having 4 children and a psychotic dog with a police record….!

Still working as a part time GP and, with a 9yr old, will be doing so for the foreseeable future. Our eldest will soon be a medical student.

Still married to Mick the Vic. We obviously don’t appear to be what people expect of a clergy family; so when my hairdresser saw him in his collar she offered me thigh length boots to attend a vicars and tarts party!

My skills with faux pas have not waned: I was shocked when our local shop refused to serve me when I asked for a Yorkshire speciality-turd pies(“whoops-Curd ,I mean” on the third insistence) “ Its just the way things come out” I apologised after calling Emma, Enema !

Some things don’t change as you get older.

I'm still living in North Yorkshire and working as a part-time GP with Paddy O'Neil in Norton. I've abandoned my A&E work to join "Arrival", a practive looking after Assylum seekers in Stockton, cleverly swopping one set of insoluble problems for another.

On the personal front I'm still married to Bob, who is currently pretty sick after recurrent PE's and heart problems.We have a horribly intelligent and sporty 14 year old daughter (see pics) who is alternately gorgeous or demonic. I managed to have a good run in the 2008 Marathon des Sables before my knees gave out, finishing my ultra-running career.To prevent the endorphin slump I am attempting to turn myself into a cyclist. So far I've managed to get around all sorts of ridiculously long sportifs in the Lakes (inc. Fred Whitton) on the unlikely combination of zero talent, grim determination and bulk orders of brake blocs. At this rate I'll be into extreme knitting by the next reunion....

Oops, just realised we didn’t write an entry last time, but will try not to labour the catching up…

Chris fell out of love with medicine and retired in 2011; he hasn’t looked back. He’s still running (after multiple Great North Runs, knees fairly intact and buttocks still pert) and has taken up a variety of non-medical interests including getting his licence as a bird ringer. That’s legs, not necks. He’s technical editor for a medical journal, and occasionally has Kath’s tea on the table when she gets home from work.

Kath is a palliative medicine consultant at the RVI. Either things have changed a lot in 30 years or RVI consultants aren’t as scary as they used to be. She’s been lucky to get grants to support a national roll-out of a CBT skills training programme she developed for the Newcastle palliative care services, so this keeps her too busy to get into trouble.

Silver Wedding and 50th birthdays were celebrated by a family trip to New York; Chris will still do anything to avoid a party although there are rumours that he may put in an appearance at the reunion dinner. Tom (22) is about to begin work as a primary school teacher in Benwell, just round the corner from Kath’s student flats. Josie (18) is still deciding what direction to take; options include singing, midwifery or chef but combining all 3 seems unlikely…

Looking forward to seeing you all in October.

I am still working in the same busy practice in York, where I have been for almost 24 years. We now have a pharmacy at our main site and three APMS practices in Hull but, unfortunately, still no coffee shop (I'm working on it though!). Earlier this year I started an online PG Dip in diabetes with the University of Leicester and BMJ Learning. One module down, only 5 to go. When not at work I enjoy Pilates and playing the saxophone (not both at the same time). In January I joined the newly formed wind band 'Dynamics' which plays at local community and charitable events. Thanks to the typical British summer weather we've been having we're getting really good at 'Singin' In The Rain'. I'm also trying to learn to play the ukulele.