A very sad day today . Our friend Gill's father died yesterday. Patrick Kavanagh CBE was deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1977 to 1983. We met him many times over the years and had lots of Sunday lunches with him at Gill's. When he was assistant commissioner he was in charge of "traffic".

A few years ago I told him, at a party, that I was taking my advanced driving test. As we were leaving he shouted accross the room "Don't forget - mirror, signal manoeuvre".

The photo of him and Gill was taken by me at Gill's 60th birthday party at her house. We had called a private taxi to leave but were so enjoying meeting old friends that I gave the driver £20 and sent him away. I did the same to the second taxi! We went home in the third.

Earlier this year he took us out (and he was in his 90th year) for a lovely lunch near where he lived. He had to walk supported with one hand on my shoulder. I told him I felt as though I was being arrested. Kath and I are really pleased we met him again in his final year

He had a great sense of humour but also a steely determination. One could see how he rose from a PC to such a high police rank. There is an entry in Wikepedia outlining his career. There is a full page obituary in The Times of 13/12/13.

We will miss him greatly.

End of the PCT

I went to the farewell coffee and cake meeting at the NHS Wakefield PCT this morning. What a sad affair. It was the last day of its existence and the last day of Gill Galdins working there. She was responsible for my getting me job there as education advisor and appraisal lead and for 7 years of happy working for me. All the best, Gill.

Recent Italy visit

We had a cold weather experience in March in Umbria with our friend Gill, who was with us for the third year running. However warmth was created by our meeting Johnny and Janelle Apodaca and joining them in a few glasses of red wine first in our house and then Aldo's bar in Panicale. I am planning to sell Johnny's easel for a huge amount of money.

Feeding the ducks at the beautiful Fonti del Clituno

Birds

This sparrow hawk sat on our fence yesterday. Later in the morning I heard an owl and a woodpecker. Loads of interesting birds here.

The Hepworth Surgical Drawings

Yesterday a gang of retired GPs and a retired surgeon friend were given a guided tour of the Hepworth Surgical Drawings in the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. It was fabulous. There was a drawing of an orthopaedic surgeon who taught us at The London Hospital. Sir Reginald Watson-Jones - orthopaedic surgeon to the Queen. He had a maroon Rolls with his chauffeur in a matching maroon uniform. He once gave a lecture on amputation. Whilst brandishing a huge knife, he accidentally cut his leg and had to be taken to casualty.
Here is an interesting link:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61975-8/fulltext