New members are invited to give a talk about their life and career but, as a founder member of our own Club, Dr David Ferguson hadn’t had that opportunity – until last week.
His career began with National Service guarding Edinburgh Castle against, amongst other threats, a drunken American sailor. David continued in the army as a Corporal in the training unit for the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and finally as a Second Lieutenant posted to Berlin.
Then began six years of medical training – three years learning how the body works, then three years learning how it goes wrong. At the time, Scotland produced an excess of doctors, leading many of David’s fellow graduates to emigrate, but he stayed in Scotland, joining a practice in Dalbeattie.
Eventually, a move to England saw David join the Alford Practice, for which he is well known locally. One of his first tasks was to steer his patients away from their proffered cough syrup once David noted that the ‘active ingredient’ was laudanum.
After retiring from full time work, David became a locum in New Zealand covering for doctors when they went on holiday, looking after not only their patients but their homes too.
Following a stint as a member of the board for Linkage Community Trust, David is finally enjoying a well-earned retirement.