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The Harrogate Autumn Scientific meeting was a huge success. It attracted some 450 delegates from twelve countries.

Adrian Wagg, the conference organiser, put together a very tasty programme that met the needs of clinicians and scientists. He is to be congratulated on planning such an outstanding meeting. Thanks also to Joanna Prendergast and the team at Hampton’s for their professional organisational skills, to Joanna Gough, who ensured that the posters sessions were of high quality and to Sarah Allport, who skilfully supervised the sponsors.

The guest speakers were particularly good. The Trevor Howell lecture (named after the founder of the BGS) was a brilliant summary of a lifetime’s work on mental disorders in old age by Prof Ingmar Skoog from the University of Gothenburg - what a tour de force! Trevor Howell’s own work was enlightened, full of insight and practical in its applications - qualities illustrated in abundance by Prof Skoog. The other state of the art lectures were also excellent.

I was pleased to see how the scientific quality of the BGS scientific meetings continues to rise. The involvement in national audits and databases and the increasing international collaboration show that the BGS is in very good heart. The feedback on the conference has been uniformly positive and plans are well advanced for the Spring Meeting in Edinburgh. Do put the date in your diaries - 22-24 April 2010.

Why do we go to conferences?
Conferences can fulfil many functions - new research can fill gaps but rarely alters the big picture. Receiving new information is a relatively small part of the conference experience (though I certainly learned a lot in Harrogate). Self-calibration is an important component: it is reassuring to learn that one’s understanding and practice are not too wide of the mark. There are opportunities to speak to presenters at poster time, in the bar or over coffee. It is important to have a break from routine, to think new thoughts, to be refreshed and restored. The social side is always a delight - it is great to meet old friends and make new ones. Those of you who were in Harrogate will have been revitalised. If you are not in the habit of attending our bi-annual meetings, do try to come along - you are bound enjoy yourself and be updated on key areas of clinical importance.

President’s medals
My predecessor, Peter Crome, told me that one great satisfaction of being BGS president was that of being like Santa Claus - giving presents to deserving members of the Society. The president’s medals were inaugurated in 1992 by the then president, John Dall. They are to recognise members who have been unable to hold high office but who have given outstanding contributions to the BGS. This year the awards went to two people who have given truly remarkable service.

Prof Tony Warnes is emeritus professor of Social Gerontology at the University of Sheffield. He has made substantial contributions to the development of Social Gerontology in the UK. He has been President of the British Society of Gerontology and is editor in chief of Ageing & Society. His research has included assistive technology in supporting frail old people, homelessness, training of Care Home staff and evaluating the effectiveness of a rapid response service. His receipt of the medal was a mark of respect for four decades of research and innovation.

The second recipient was Chris Turnbull. He has been a pioneer in community geriatrics and care in rest homes; is an authority on diabetes and parkinsonism and an opinion-former on accidents in old age. His extensive research has focussed on everyday problems (such as minor fractures, CPR, driving, hearing impairment and blood pressure monitoring). He has made a remarkable contribution to postgraduate education, including secretary of the Royal College of Physicians of London Specialty Advisory Committee (which resulted in two major updates of the registrar curriculum). Chris is truly the Geriatricians’ Geriatrician. He has the highest standards, both clinically and ethically. Industrious, dedicated and modest, he is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and those whom he has trained. Jeremy Playfer describes him as an exemplar of the inestimable value of a great Geriatrician. Both people are to be congratulated on their wonderful achievements.

We need an Archivist!
We are looking for someone to take on the role of BGS archivist. The basement of Marjory Warren house is a veritable treasure trove of books and documents on many aspects of Geriatric medicine. There is a need to catalogue and organise the publications. Though there is a lot of information on the earlier generations of Geriatricians, we do not have a database of more recent key figures in the specialty. If you fancy the idea of being our historian, do get in touch.

Congratulations
To Peter Crome, on his Degree of Doctor of Science at the University of Keele. This is a great honour for our past president and is a fitting tribute to 30 years of important research that he has done on many aspects of ageing - toxicology, drugs, stroke, Geriatric syndromes and services. Well done!

To Roger Francis and all the editorial team at Age and Ageing on achieving the highest journal impact factor to date. This is our flagship journal and it is so good to see the that Roger’s editorship is producing such high quality scientific articles.

To Duncan Forsyth, for presenting a geriatrician’s measured view on the Channel Four programme on Care Homes. We are getting increasing media exposure and I am pleased that more of our members are flying the flag for positive ageing and for our Society.

Graham Mulley

BGS Newsletter, November 2009
Issue 24 ISSN 1748-634000 24