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Specialist Life—Dr. Richard William Beard
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 111 (2003) 96–97
Editorial
Specialist Life—Dr. Richard William Beard
Posts held 1972–1996 1996–2000 1996 2001
Professor and Head of Department, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London. Director, Pelvic Pain Clinic for Women, Northwick Park and St. Mark’s Hospitals NHS Trust, Harrow. Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Imperial College School of Medicine, London. Hospital of St. John & St. Elizabeth, 60 Grove End Road, London.
Appointments held 1979–1984 Advisor Social Services Select Committee, the House of Commons, on the Second Report on Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality. 1978–1981 Perinatal Epidemiologist, North West Thames RHA. 1981–1983 Member of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services. 1983–2000 Civilian Consultant Advisor in Obstetrics to the Royal Air Force. 1983–1984 Member of Council, British Association of Perinatal Paediatrics. 1983–1985 Chairman, Scientific Advisory and Path. Committee of the RCOG. 1983–1986 Consultant Advisor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology to the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Services. 1987–1990 Chairman of the Birthright/RCOG Research Advisory Committee. 1990–1997 Council Member of Action Research. 1994–1999 President of ECOG and President of EBCOG (European Board and College of O and G). 1993 Chairman, Maternity Risk Management Committee—Birth Unit, Hospital of St. John & St. Elizabeth, London. Research interests Perinatal medicine—intrapartum care of the fetus. Diabetes in pregnancy. Chronic pelvic pain in young women. Why did you choose Obstetrics and Gynaecology? I gained first position in the final examinations at Cambridge University which led to an appointment, while I was doing a short service commission in Singapore, as a single handed obstetrician and gynaecologist to the Royal Air Force. I enjoyed the experience, and obtained a post at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, London as soon as I came out of the RAF. Who was your most influential teacher? Professor Carl Wood, now in Australia. He was a senior lecturer at Queen Charlotte’s when I started there as a senior house officer. He was full of new ideas and, apart from giving me a thorough grounding in clinical research, he taught me to question dogmatic teaching. He also became a close friend. What is your favourite music? The music of Bach, although it not performed as frequently, as I would like at the Wigmore Hall, London, where I go frequently for chamber music concerts. 0301-2115/$ – see front matter # 2003 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2003.08.002
What are your favourite books? Biographies. I think my preference is something to do with age. The older one gets, the more one learns about life which creates a fascination with how the ‘great and the good’ coped with it. Who is your favourite writer? Allan Massie. His historical novels about the Roman Emperors—Caesar, Augustus and Tiberius, are outstanding pieces of writing. What book are you reading now? ‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple. My formative years, up to the age of 13, has made me an avid reader about life in India, both before and during the British Empire. What is your preferred menu? Uncooked oysters, sea bream or turbot accompanied by a good bottle of muscadet, followed by a lemon souffle and a double espresso coffee. The right surroundings are critical to the enjoyment of the food. Which kind of sport do you mostly perform? Tennis and sailing. The more sedentary life of retirement is a limiting
Editorial / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 111 (2003) 96–97
factor, and I find that unless I take regular exercise every day, there is a real risk of a torn muscle or ligament. Which politicians do you appreciate most? I recognize that Tony Blair is an unusual choice for someone who is a lifelong Conservative. However, he is the first British politician to recognize the needs of a society that is becoming increasingly affluent and also egalitarian in its philosophy. Inevitably, his problems stem from trying to bring about change in a country that traditionally has never welcomed change, but the ideas are right. Who are your least favorite politicians? Left-wing or right wing extremists. Do you support capital punishment for murder? No. How do you relax? In my house in Eire. Which charity do you support? Book-Link which is devoted to helping to improve schooling in Ethiopia. I am an active member of the academic committee which tries to ensure that the required books in English are sent out.
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What job would you choose if you lived your life again? The same but with a better training in basic science. What is your attitude to artificial abortion? I regard it as a humane solution to the unavoidable social problem of unwanted pregnancy. I was a newly appointed consultant at the time the Abortion Act was passed in 1969. I was shocked at the impact of on these women of being seen in a general gynaecology clinic. We set up an outpatient abortion service at King’s College Hospital in London which showed the importance of having trained counselors to provide the emotional support these women needed. What is your favourite word? Freedom. What is your least favorite word (phrase)? ‘I don’t care’. What would you change if you were a dictator? I would free the NHS from the shackles of state control. What are your hobbies? Sailing, research into chronic pelvic pain in women, and working with maternity risk management.
Editorial
Specialist Life—Dr. Richard William Beard
Posts held 1972–1996 1996–2000 1996 2001
Professor and Head of Department, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London. Director, Pelvic Pain Clinic for Women, Northwick Park and St. Mark’s Hospitals NHS Trust, Harrow. Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Imperial College School of Medicine, London. Hospital of St. John & St. Elizabeth, 60 Grove End Road, London.
Appointments held 1979–1984 Advisor Social Services Select Committee, the House of Commons, on the Second Report on Perinatal and Neonatal Mortality. 1978–1981 Perinatal Epidemiologist, North West Thames RHA. 1981–1983 Member of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services. 1983–2000 Civilian Consultant Advisor in Obstetrics to the Royal Air Force. 1983–1984 Member of Council, British Association of Perinatal Paediatrics. 1983–1985 Chairman, Scientific Advisory and Path. Committee of the RCOG. 1983–1986 Consultant Advisor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology to the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Services. 1987–1990 Chairman of the Birthright/RCOG Research Advisory Committee. 1990–1997 Council Member of Action Research. 1994–1999 President of ECOG and President of EBCOG (European Board and College of O and G). 1993 Chairman, Maternity Risk Management Committee—Birth Unit, Hospital of St. John & St. Elizabeth, London. Research interests Perinatal medicine—intrapartum care of the fetus. Diabetes in pregnancy. Chronic pelvic pain in young women. Why did you choose Obstetrics and Gynaecology? I gained first position in the final examinations at Cambridge University which led to an appointment, while I was doing a short service commission in Singapore, as a single handed obstetrician and gynaecologist to the Royal Air Force. I enjoyed the experience, and obtained a post at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, London as soon as I came out of the RAF. Who was your most influential teacher? Professor Carl Wood, now in Australia. He was a senior lecturer at Queen Charlotte’s when I started there as a senior house officer. He was full of new ideas and, apart from giving me a thorough grounding in clinical research, he taught me to question dogmatic teaching. He also became a close friend. What is your favourite music? The music of Bach, although it not performed as frequently, as I would like at the Wigmore Hall, London, where I go frequently for chamber music concerts. 0301-2115/$ – see front matter # 2003 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2003.08.002
What are your favourite books? Biographies. I think my preference is something to do with age. The older one gets, the more one learns about life which creates a fascination with how the ‘great and the good’ coped with it. Who is your favourite writer? Allan Massie. His historical novels about the Roman Emperors—Caesar, Augustus and Tiberius, are outstanding pieces of writing. What book are you reading now? ‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple. My formative years, up to the age of 13, has made me an avid reader about life in India, both before and during the British Empire. What is your preferred menu? Uncooked oysters, sea bream or turbot accompanied by a good bottle of muscadet, followed by a lemon souffle and a double espresso coffee. The right surroundings are critical to the enjoyment of the food. Which kind of sport do you mostly perform? Tennis and sailing. The more sedentary life of retirement is a limiting
Editorial / European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 111 (2003) 96–97
factor, and I find that unless I take regular exercise every day, there is a real risk of a torn muscle or ligament. Which politicians do you appreciate most? I recognize that Tony Blair is an unusual choice for someone who is a lifelong Conservative. However, he is the first British politician to recognize the needs of a society that is becoming increasingly affluent and also egalitarian in its philosophy. Inevitably, his problems stem from trying to bring about change in a country that traditionally has never welcomed change, but the ideas are right. Who are your least favorite politicians? Left-wing or right wing extremists. Do you support capital punishment for murder? No. How do you relax? In my house in Eire. Which charity do you support? Book-Link which is devoted to helping to improve schooling in Ethiopia. I am an active member of the academic committee which tries to ensure that the required books in English are sent out.
97
What job would you choose if you lived your life again? The same but with a better training in basic science. What is your attitude to artificial abortion? I regard it as a humane solution to the unavoidable social problem of unwanted pregnancy. I was a newly appointed consultant at the time the Abortion Act was passed in 1969. I was shocked at the impact of on these women of being seen in a general gynaecology clinic. We set up an outpatient abortion service at King’s College Hospital in London which showed the importance of having trained counselors to provide the emotional support these women needed. What is your favourite word? Freedom. What is your least favorite word (phrase)? ‘I don’t care’. What would you change if you were a dictator? I would free the NHS from the shackles of state control. What are your hobbies? Sailing, research into chronic pelvic pain in women, and working with maternity risk management.