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Editorial |
Why I became an occupational physician ...
I often wonder if perhaps it really all began on 22 February 1953 on a hillside in Fife close to RAF Leuchars from where a short time earlier my father, at the controls of a Meteor jet, had taken off never to return. Less than 4 months later I entered the world.I do not recall as a child ever expressing a desire to be a pilot or being especially interested in flying; and as the time came closer to making a career decision, I felt somewhere deep down that I wanted to study medicine. Transferring schools for my final year, my new rector peered down his nose at me during our first meeting and with a sneer pointed out that I would be lucky to get into university let alone medical school. So it was with unashamed haste that my unconditional offer from Dundee University was accepted.
Freshers Week introduced us to all the opportunities for engaging in anything but study and here I came across the University Air Squadron—and suddenly I knew I had to join and learn to fly. East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron was clearly very gullible and before I knew it I was being taught to fly a Chipmunk—from RAF Leuchars no less. It quickly became clear that I did not possess my father's natural flying ability but I do have the consolation of having flown solo!
My new found interest in flying led to an interest in all things to do with the RAF which allowed me to convince a Selection Board that I was a good bet as a future RAF Medical Officer; any pecuniary interest in improving the quality of my life at University was purely coincidental! Thus for the second time, the RAF had a Gunnyeon on its list of officers and I experienced the mix of primary care and occupational health from which the first spark of interest in occupational medicine was ignited.
Responsibility for the health of those engaged in a diverse range of occupations during three tours of duty on operational flying stations (and yes I did get to fly in a Lightning); a year's involvement with the rehabilitation of bandsmen of the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets after the bombing in Regents Park in 1982 and a chance encounter involving some alcohol and a discussion about the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries Diploma in Industrial Health fanned the flames of my interest in the specialty—and the rest as they say is history!
Was my ultimate destiny just a series of unconnected coincidences? Was there something about flying inherent in my make up destined to bring me into contact with the RAF and expose me to occupational health? Or was there some greater hand influencing and shaping my future Who knows? I often wonder though if my father would have approved of my career choice—I hope he would.
E-mail: Bill.Gunnyeon{at}dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Notes
Dedicated to the memory of the late Pilot Officer William C Gunnyeon, RAF (1929–53).
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