Jane Cox: Manjit Bhamra - My Life as an Orthopaedic Surgeon

Hawick Rotary Club were pleased to welcome Mr Manjit Bhamra, a peri-retired Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, to speak to us last Thursday evening.

Manjit spent his first ten years in Kenya before arriving in Birmingham, to stay with his brother who was already living there. This was possible as his parents - who were from the Punjab - had been offered British citizenship whilst his father was working in Kenya. The school Manjit attended in Birmingham in the late 1960s was rough and knives abounded making schools today appear very calm and safe.

However this did not deflect Manjit from being accepted by Sheffield University to study medicine. He rose through the NHS, specializing within orthopaedics on hips and shoulders. This included working in various London hospitals for a prestigious orthopaedic surgeon who started working life as William (when he operated on the hips of the Queen Mother) but later in his career became known as Sarah.....

When Manjit accepted his first Consultant position he returned to Yorkshire where he held two Consultant positions over 26 years, latterly at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

A number of procedures were explained to us and there were many questions from Rotary members, inevitably about the state of their own hips, etc!

Manjit and his wife are now living just outside Melrose where they have opened a magnificent bed and breakfast business, The Ghillie, offering residents their own renovated property containing 2 bedrooms, sitting room and shower room. Contact details are The Ghillie, Prieston House, Melrose, TD6 9HQ; Tel. 07903560818 and www.theghilliebnb.com

President Linden Warburton gave a well-merited vote of thanks, expressing hopes that Hawick Rotary Club would hear from Mr Bhamra again.

The following evening saw Hawick Rotary Club's annual President's Night take place at The Green Rooms at Mansfield Park when a company of almost 70, including visitors from all across the Borders, enjoyed a fine meal with musical performances by Act 1 Youth and by Debbie, David and Drew of the local group 3D.