14 of 80 \ Bewdley Bridge Community Magazine - October 2025 where friends, colleagues, and the patient community, not to mention the tennis club, enabled me to take each day as it came. Once I retired, I became a member of the Civic Society's committee. I had been a member since we moved here, and spent 12 years on the committee until stepping down just after the pandemic. I also am a member of the Horticultural Society and the WI and I learnt to play bridge after
Roger died, partly as a back-up when I can no longer play tennis and partly to try and keep my brain polished. Looking back to those early days of isolation seems surreal. If it were possible I had an easy lockdown with two dogs to walk each day and other dog walkers to have a distanced chat with. I have had dogs since I was a teenager apart from 8 years of university and hospital jobs. Since the seventies there were always two and occasionally three, the vast majority being golden retrievers, and they are great company with a welcome whatever mood one is in, and I certainly wouldn't be out walking twice a day in all weathers without them. The last three I rehomed as mature dogs as I decided after my last puppy 15 years ago they were very hard work! Having to look after them saw me through the aftermath of losing Roger too. In 2022 out of the blue I was awarded the
LTA's National Volunteer of the Year award having "won" the County and then Regional nominations. I had no idea that I had been put forward! It involved a presentation in London and an invitation to the Royal Box at Wimbledon! Seeing what went on behind the scenes was as good as the tennis! The icing on the cake was the presence of Roger Federer and Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge. Then I was honoured to be awarded the British Empire Medal in the next New Year's Honours List and there ensued a presentation at Worcester Guildhall with friends and family present as well as an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party, lovely, but very, very, wet! I now have been playing pickleball for nearly 3 years along with my tennis and can recommend it, not least as I shall be able to carry on longer than tennis and also as it is mainly an indoor sport. I also have joined the local U3A as it is so important to keep refreshed. Looking back, I have had a happy life despite the ups and downs along the way and can honestly say I enjoyed my 25 years as a GP. One never knew what was coming next and in what other job would you find yourself examining a newborn then following this with a visit to an octogenarian?
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