I was born in Manchester in 1937, attended Salford (suburb) Grammar and went on to Leeds University to study medicine from 1956 to 1961. The usual house and registrar jobs ensued in Cheshire, Devon and Leeds General Infirmary where I was neurology registrar, 1969. From 1969 to 1972 I was an advisor to Glaxo Laboratories in England but maintained several clinical posts in London. My speciality was general medicine. I was married in 1962 and have 2 children who reside in the UK. I took the MRCP London in 1967.

Asthma has, and still does plague my life, so seeking a better climate we emigrated to New Zealand in 1972. I worked as a consultant physician in a small town called Whakatane, 1972 to 1977, then moved to a much larger centre in Rotorua in 1977 to join a group of 3 physicians. It was there in 1985 I diagnosed the first case of botulism in New Zealand. 2 young Maori girls were admitted with fever and various neurological signs including bulbar palsy. It seemed to me that only drugs or an infection could be responsible and there was no evidence for the former. After some deliberation and hearing they had eaten some obscure food at a river's edge I considered botulism, about which my colleagues were most skeptical. I managed to persuade a Wellington laboratory to undertake the essential tests. 10 mice with and without anti-botulism toxin were injected with blood from the patient. All the latter died, and I was able to save the life of the young Maori girls.

An experience which dramatically changed a patient’s life occurred in Fremantle. An 80-year-old was admitted as a 'stroke' being unable to walk. My abiding love of neurology led me to reveal he in fact had cervical spondylosis with myelopathy and after surgery he went home walking fine.

In 1986, we moved to Perth where I was appointed physician and director of geriatrics at Fremantle Hospital. There I remained until severe disc problems forced my retirement in 1996. I then took up an old and abiding passion – photography, and through a Sydney office obtained a Diploma from the New York Institute of Photography in 2000. My other interests are literature, classical music, bridge and chess.

Finally, out of interest can I mention, or brag, that my mother’s name was Shaffer, cousin of the great playwright Peter Shaffer – Equus, Amadeus, The Royal Hunt of the Sun etc.