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Excellent science, Christmas shopping and Mr Swing - what more might a delegate ask for to round off November 2007 before facing the razzamatazz of turkey, brussels sprouts, brandy pud and a snooze to the lullaby of HM’s annual speech?

This year’s Autumn Scientific meeting features Dr Clarfield, initially from Canada and now based in Israel. Expect more than a dry, academic treatise from Dr Clarfield when he speaks on the perils of prevention in the frail elderly person. In addition to his interests in Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, the organisation of health care services, medical history and ethics, Dr Clarfield publishes medical humour, book reviews and miscellaneous pieces in newspapers. These personal tidbits and the fact that he enjoys performing folks music wiht his band, “The Unstrung Heroes” are an indication that this year’s Trevor Howell Guest Lecture will be anything but soporific.

And while on the subject of wit - of the delicately ascerbic kind, of course - we have Dr Hugo Mascie Taylor on Clinical Governance, and Professor John Potter delivering the Marjory Warren Guest Lecture. No aternoon snooze in the auditorium chair with these two speakers to educate and entertain us!

And in the interests of creating well-rounded delegates, this year’s Autumn meeting features Mr Swing, a 13 piece dance orchestra playing dance music from the radio broadcasts of the 30’s through the Glen Miller sound of the 40’s and on to the “Rat Pack” days of the 50’s and beyond. P.S. they have performed at venues including Buckingham Palace, so they can’t be too tatty an outfit!

Then, for those of us who don’t get a thrill out of leaving our pressy shopping until Christmas Eve, Harrogate compensates for its awful location in terms of direct transport links by providing a wide range of shops within easy walking distance of the main hotels and conference centres. These include not only modern department stores for the usual perfumes, sweaters and socks, but also smaller establishments selling crafts and knick-knacks for the more unconventional giftee. For the difficult cousin/aunt/uncle or in-law, why not buy a tin of truly exotic tea from Bettys - after having a cup of something exotic yourself, accompanied by the famous Fat Rascal (the name has since been changed, in the interests of political correctness).

This is our penultimate trip to Harrogate. Getting there may be a less than “smooth” experience, but the goodies on offer this Autumn make it worthwhile. We look forward to seeing you there.

BGS Newsletter, October 2007
Issue 13 ISSN 1748-6343 13