Robin Lawson 'My life talk'

 JOB (LIFE) TALK 11th September 2018

Personal History

Born in 1939, in Chingford, in the County of Essex, said to be the "posh" side of Wathamstow, partly because of the huge, beautiful Epping Forest on our doorstep.  It later became part of Greater London as result of a "reorganisation" - the first of many which seem to have been a feature of my life.  Father from NW Scotland, Mother from Nottingham - both teachers.

Dad was called up not long after, first to an infantry regiment, then transferred into the RAOC. I recall an elderly neighbour lying back on his deckchair, in the middle of our road, watching" dog fights" through binoculars.  Later, I watched attempts by Spitfire pilots to deflect doodle-bugs onto nearby Epping Forest and looked at the results of a V2 rocket landing on our neighbourhood.

When the bombing became so bad that mass evacuation of children was organised, Mum arranged for me to go and stay with my grandparents in Nottingham.  I remember the "good-bye" scene at the railway station - me with a name-label round my neck and a small knapsack with "essentials" for the journey.  Mum had 2 sisters, also married with children, and 2 brothers - all in Nottingham.  So, I was lucky, as an evacuee, to have close family contacts in those early years.  Grandpa took me in hand - literally.  I remember great walks - to see the swans on the Trent.  Also to visit some of his customers (he was a "tally man" extracting weekly payments).  I later found he had been the first employee of Mr & Mrs Boot, in their first shop, but resigned when asked to look after their baby !  I returned home in October '43, just in time to welcome the birth of a brother - Dad must have had a home-visit early in the year !

Primary school, at which my Mother taught, gave me a great start, with an opportunity to go on to a Grammar School or, on a scholarship, to Christ's Hospital - a Public School with a difference - founded in 1552, in London - it had moved out, in 1902, to near Horsham, Sussex.- around 450 boys, from all over the UK, all boarding and wearing a very different uniform :- navy blue coat, leather belt, silver buttons, knee length britches, orange stockings, etc !

Wonderful experiences and excellent teaching resulted in my gaining a funded place at Cambridge University from Autumn 1957 to study scientific subjects as a run-up to Medical training at The London Hospital.  Sidney Sussex College was one of the smaller ones; all male students in those days, with Oliver Cromwell among its former students !

I was not an "outstanding" student but did well enough to get my degree in 1960.  Also, I enjoyed rugby, tennis, punting, folk singing and, most, importantly meeting up with a lovely Norwegian lass, studying English as a foreign language.  She was going home for Christmas but might return after New Year.

I had had deferment from National Service but would be liable if I did not continue clinical studies, which I had considered long and hard, as general practice did not appeal to me and I felt extremely doubtful about a future in a hospital medical or academic career.  There had been great debate about if and when NS would be discontinued.  Again, massive good fortune - it was announced that it was to be ended !

So, to keep the story short, I went home for Christmas, returned to Cambridge in the New Year, first working at the teaching hospital, as a porter, then driving lorries for a department store, delivering all over East Anglia, and living in a "hostel".  Anne Berit also returned and deeply in love, we agreed to marry that June.  I had decided to go for a career in hospital management, starting with a low level admin job at a large hospital near Chingford, moving on to a another in the acute hospital in Leytonstone, where we were able to rent a furnished flat - our first home.

I applied and obtained a place on a training scheme, starting with an admin job in Chelmsford, Essex, where we bought our first house in a near-by village.  There followed jobs, some entailing moving home, in Chatham Kent, Chelsea, Westminster, Oxford, South Manchester and Surrey.  With so many changes taking place in NHS management I took the opportunity of retiring and Anne & I set up our own business - with a variety of clients, ranging from an international charity, wishing to raise public awareness, to the Institute of Directors.

With IMPACT, we organised a cataract removal programme, for mostly elderly people, who were not accepted for standard, local anaesthesia, day-care surgery because they had no-one to look after them on the night after surgery.  We approached Eye Units across England, got the NHS clinicians to agree to do this at week-ends, local voluntary organisations, including many Rotarians, to provide transport and help, and Trust House Forte Hotels to give accommodation and meals for the night after op's at a very reasonable rate.  Patients were brought from home to the hotel on Friday, admitted on Saturday and went home Sunday.  Sunday op. patients came to the hotel Saturday and went home Monday.  So, the dinner on Saturday evening, including volunteers, was a major event !  IMPACT's aim was to get wide publicity which would enhance its ability to enhance support for its international programmes to prevent or, if not possible, to treat diseases causing disablity  eg polio and malaria.  They succeeded  !

We worked as Secretary to the West Surrey Branch of the IoD, welcoming new Members, servicing the Branch Committee, arranging speakers, locations and catering for a programme including breakfast events  and dinner meetings most months and the AGM.  Also, we obtained contributions to and wrote much of the Branch Newsletter, assembled it, had it printed, put it together and posted it quarterly.  The Branch membership doubled over the five years.

We wound up our business and sold the registered company in 2003 and concentrated on enjoying retirement.  We had moved from Wilmslow to Farnham, Surrey, in 1982.  In the mid-80's, we were founder members of a Residents' Association for our road and very much enjoyed its social programme, making many friends.  The Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside had been Chartered in 1984 and I joined in 1986, in the run-up to leaving the NHS.  I had visited quite a few Clubs in nearby towns, in relation to my NHS role, and recognised the value of net-working with the business community.  Anne Berit joined Inner Wheel.

Again, I was so fortunate to have become one of its Membership, taking part in new activities, supporting local charities such as the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, of which I became a Trustee, initiating fund-raising projects, some of which became annual events, eg The Duck Race on the River Wey, passing through the middle of town on an early Summer Saturday, attended by thousands and raising substantial funds through sale of duck tickets, in advance and on the day - a form of animated lottery.  Another major fundraiser is the cross country Marathon, both full and half.

 When we moved South, we left elder son, working and living in the North West. He met and married a lass from Wigan and went to live there, later, in Orrell.  Our younger son came with us and worked in Bordon, a firm which went bust, then after studying at a College, met up with a friend from his sixth form days, with whom he had kept in touch.  They later married and now live in Crewe.  So, when, after 35 years, we realised we could no longer cope with a large house and  garden and increasingly difficult getting together with both families, including grandchildren and, even, great-grandchildren, we decided to move up here.  It took a while to find what we wanted, but, again very lucky, we found something the right size in a great location, bought it and moved in  in early May.  What a bonus to find super neighbours, including a Rotarian - Rodney !

So, here we are, going through an extensive programme of renovation and renewal, but making good progress, and supported by kith and kin.  In recent years, I have developed an extensive mix of health issues.  Sorting them out is tricky and I increasingly recognise how cross-country running, playing rugby, cricket, and both lawn and real tennis was marvellous at the time but is paid for later.  Enough, enough !

I am aware of two special words :- SYNERGY and SERENDIPITY. Throughout my life, I have benefitted from both concepts.  I understand Synergy to be the recognition that a combination of elements can become greater and more beneficial than just the sum of the parts.  Serendipity is the recognition that something is taking place, by chance, giving really special outcomes and possibilities for on-going, wonderful opportunities.