‘Lost medics’ graduate

A group of doctors who studied medicine at the University of St Andrews will finally graduate today (Friday 27th June, 2003) – more than 30 years after embarking on their course.

The University decided to honour the 33 ‘lost medics’ at this year’s summer Graduations in a move to correct an anomaly that saw them slip through the net three decades ago.

The doctors will receive a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree at today’s graduation ceremony, which has a distinctly medical flavour since eminent physicians Professor Sir Graham Catto, Chairman of the General Medical Council, and Professor Kenneth Lowe, a former Queens Physician and innovator of kidney dialysis, will be awarded honorary degrees on the same day.

The students, who completed their first three years at St Andrews, transferred to the new Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Dundee in 1970 for the fourth year of their six year degree. The University of St Andrews stopped teaching a full medical course in 1972 – as a result the class graduated with a MBChB degree from Dundee in 1973, but had nothing to show for their time at St Andrews.

As the class of 1967 prepared for their 30 year reunion this year, they light-heartedly approached the University asking for some recognition of their time at the ancient University. They were delighted when Principal and Vice- Chancellor, Dr Brian Lang agreed to rectify the anomaly as part of the group’s reunion celebrations.

One of the class, Dundee GP Alex Watson, said he was delighted to have some formal recognition that he had spent time at St Andrews. ‘We loved being at the university and played a very full part in the life there. We all acknowledge the excellent education we had at St Andrews and have an intense sense of loyalty to and love of this institution,’ he said.

Professor Colin A. Vincent, Master of the United College of the University of St.Andrews, said:

‘The University of St Andrews is pleased to offer our ‘lost medics’ the opportunity to graduate at long last and become part of the St Andrews family of alumni.’

‘I understand that I taught this class in 1967, my first year as a Lecturer at the University . It will be very nice to see them graduate today some 36 years later.’

Today’s ceremony will also see a few remarkable coincidences: two of the ‘Lost Medics’ will graduate on the same day as their children, who have followed their parents footsteps to St Andrews. Dr Sandy Young’s daughter Alison will graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Physiology and Dr Sue Hobbins’ son Andrew will also graduate with a BSc Medical Science; Dr Julian Newton is graduating alongside his academic daughter at the time, Dr Carol Trotter; and Honorary Graduate Professor Kenneth Lowe taught the class of ’67!

Since 1974, the University has offered a three- year general and four-year honours BSc degree in Medical Science as part of a long- established, joint BSc / MBChB course which is completed at the University of Manchester.

The University recently reinstated its MD degree at the Bute Medical School. The MD was reinstated by Act of the Scottish Parliament at the end of 2002 and will provide opportunities for medically qualified candidates to undertake research projects in association with St Andrews scientists and making use of the University’s extensive state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE ‘LOST MEDICS’ AND THEIR FORMER TEACHER PROFESSOR KENNETH LOWE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS / PHOTOGRAPHS AFTER THE GRADUATION CEREMONY (APPROX 12PM OR THEREAFTER) IN ST SALVATOR’S QUADRANGLE, NORTH STREET, ST ANDREWS.

DR SANDY YOUNG AND HIS DAUGHTER ALISON AND DR SUE HOBBINS AND HER SON ANDREW WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SEPARATE PHOTOGRAPHS.

A CLASS PIC OF THE ‘LOST MEDICS’ FROM THEIR DAYS AT ST ANDREWS IS AVAILABLE AS AN EMAILABLE JPEG – PLEASE CONTACT GAYLE COOK (DETAILS BELOW).

The Lost Medics who have been traced are (those denoted with ‘In Abs’ are graduating in absence):

In Abs Bryan Leslie Anderson, Wainfleet all Saints, Lincolnshire In Abs Malcolm Stewart Binns, Pontefract, Yorkshire James Richard Briggs, Knutsford Christopher Neil Brittain, Anstruther, Fife Alison Brownlow, Burnley, Lancashire Janice Munro Cargill, Dysart, Fife Alastair Gordon Coutts, Lerwick, Shetland In Abs Anthony Michael Dancyger, Swindon, Wiltshire Frances Norah Gillespie, Thessaloniki, Greece Susan Jean Godlonton, London Philip James Harrison, London Susan Margaret Hobbins, Otford, Kent David William Hobkirk, Guisborough, Yorkshire In Abs Hee-Liong Ling, Ampthill, Bedfordshire Peter William Love, Doncaster Ann McKechnie, Grantham John Robert Martin, Inverness Maura Murphy, Liverpool Julian Charles Barker Newton, Bakewell, Derbyshire P Michael Paul Elizabeth Elaine Scovell, Port Isaac, Cornwall In Abs William Simpson Christina Smith, Zionsville, Indiana, USA Stephen Charles Stanley, Bere Regis, Dorset In Abs Elizabeth Swain, Lenzie Carol Agnes Trotter, Southampton Michael Peter Wailoo, Lutterworth, Leicestershire Alexander Davidson Watson, Anstruther, Fife Philippa Jane Quartly Watson, Amersham, Buckinghamshire David Watt, Paisley, Renfrewshire In Abs David Wood Wright, Perth Elizabeth Wright Alexander Muir Morton Young, Alyth, Perthshire

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227, mobile 07900 050103, or email [email protected] Ref: lost medics pic call 250603 View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk