Newcastle Medical School alumnus and retired surgeon publishes memoir

David Clarke, who studied at Newcastle Medical School from 1961 - 1966, has recently published the first volume of his memoir, detailing his time at the university and his days as a junior doctor in the city’s hospitals.

Opening Up

'Opening Up: The Making of a Surgeon' presents a unique snapshot of a golden era in the history of the NHS and is brimming with fascinating anecdotes about the colourful and distinguished characters David came across during his 20 years on Tyneside.

It includes digressions into surgical history and a tribute to the towering North-East figures who helped shape modern medicine.

Part one of two volumes, 'Opening Up: The Making of a Surgeon' is an abridged version of an autobiography David wrote shortly after his retirement. Written out longhand and then “typed laboriously with one finger”, it came to 220,000 words and was published privately for family and friends.

“I have led an interesting life, enriched by an association with a wide variety of characters and I have been fortunate in having a good memory, evidenced by the comments of several of my contemporaries over the years of ‘You should write a book, David’!

“During my time there have been more advances in medicine than since the time of Hippocrates, and I hope the historical digressions will prove informative and entertaining.

“Despite their associations with disease and death, in my day hospitals were happy places in which to work, with great camaraderie. And I hope this has been successfully conveyed in this narrative.”

David, now in his 80s, was a general, paediatric and vascular surgeon who rose to the position of chief of service for the division of surgery throughout his career. He lives in Yarm with his wife, Mary, and has two grown-up sons, Michael, who works in public relations, and Paul, a clinical lecturer at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust.

Pictured above (l-r): David as a medical student at Newcastle in the 1960s, and today.

A compelling memoir

With heartwarming and occasionally shocking stories and vivid descriptions, this compelling memoir offers a unique glimpse into the world of medicine and surgery.

Published by McGeary Media, 'Opening Up: The Making of a Surgeon' is available in hardback (ISBN ‏‎978-1915187130), paperback (ISBN 978-1915187086) and ebook from Amazon and other ebook retailers and can be ordered from all bookshops and libraries.

A limited number of hardback copies are available from the publisher priced £15 plus £2 P&P. Email [email protected].

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