Tuesday 10 July 2012

MICHAEL CROWE


         I was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire on 23rd April 1936.    Education. Malsis Hall Prep School; Bootham School, York.     National Service in the Royal Navy – on discharge Acting Sub/Lt RNVR. 1956-59 Magdalene College , Cambridge.1956-9 Natural Science Tripos.      Clinical studies at Guy’s Hospital, London.   Qualified MRCS. LRCP 1962; MB BChir 1963.    House jobs in Guildford before a 44 year career in General Medical Practice in Wokingham, Berkshire.  

General Practice was in the doldrums in 1966 and I became active in both Royal College of General Practitioners and British Medical Association. With the support of the Oxford Regional Hospital Board, I carried out a research project “Your views on the Future of General Practice in the Reading Area”.    It achieved a response rate of 97% and influenced GMSC policy.      I was chairman of the BMA’s Junior Members Forum in 1969 and proposed a motion on “Sex education in schools” that was passed at the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting.      I campaigned for the need for Medical Students to have first hand experience in General Practice;     the value of Health Centres; the active participation of GPs at the emerging Post Graduate Centres.    The M4 motorway was being planned in 1968 and as Chairman of the Wokingham Civic Society’s M4 Action Committee I was instrumental in defeating a County Council scheme for joining the M4 with the M3.    The new road link would have destroyed most of the recreational spaces and school playing fields across the town.
 
   I moved to the Uppingham Road Practice, Leicester in 1970 before joining a 3 man Practice in Leicestershire’s first Health Centre at Syston in 1971. Since then the Practice has doubled in size and taken on a major teaching role. I was appointed one of the first “Man in Society” Tutors in the Department of General Practice at the new Leicester Medical School which started in 1974. I was a Trainer for the Leicester Vocational Training Scheme for General Practice for many years and Chairman of the Trent Regional GP Sub Committee. I retired from full time practice in 2000 but continued to do local Locums until July 2009. As Secretary to the Leicestershire and Rutland Division of the BMA.

I was the prime mover in a successful campaign to force the Labour Government of the day, Secretary of State Barbara Castle, to give Leicestershire its fair share of the NHS resources. Prior to that Leicestershire was only getting 78% of the National average. The campaign was backed by all the nine local MPs; all the local Medical and Nursing professions; the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the Leicester Mercury; As the BMA’s local Press Officer for over 30 years I promoted successful National campaigns on :- Routine testing of pregnant women for HIV; The fair distribution of NHS resources Nation wide; Cannabis to be available for research and medical treatment; The need to add ovaries to the list on a donor card; The need to plan emergency treatment centres for providing Out of Hours care.

        I was made a Fellow of the BMA and was President of the local Division in 1991.     In 1984, as Chairman of the Leicester Faculty I organised the Spring Meeting of the Royal College of General Practitioners with the theme “Living with Big Brother.”   Daniel Lambert featured on the publicity papers.   I was elected Fellow of the RCGP 1981. Provost of the Faculty 2002-5. Member of the Leicestershire Local Medical Committee from 1970. Chairman 1990 to 1998. Agenda Committee of the National Conference of Local Medical Committees for 12 years. General Practitioner’s Committee Member 1999-02 President Leicester Medical Society 2003-4.

        In 1982 and 2002 Audrey and I organised reunions in the Robens Suite at Guys for the 1962 Medical Graduates. This year David Turner very kindly offered to do this the 50th Anniversary of our Graduation. When we moved up to Leicester in 1971.   Audrey and I were founder members of a small group of 1962 Guys Graduates :- Mike Jacoby; Dick Nicholson; Clive Wakes Miller; Gerry Guerrier; Roger Jowett and our spouses have met for a “Guys Weekend” every year since.


      Member Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society Council 2001-10. President 2005-6. Member “Save the trees on London Road” Action Committee 1971. The Leicester Eastern Relief Road was eventually dropped. Chairman Cossington Resident’s Action Committee formed to monitor sand and gravel extraction. Chairman Friends of All Saints Church Cossington formed to raise funds to restore and improve the village church and its Secret Gardens Sub Committee. Chairman the “Epicureans” a food and wine Society for 30 years. Secretary and later President of the Leicester Wyvern Probus Club. Publications :- Dr Bunyan’s Progress, Update Plus, March 1971 to Feb 1973. “Out of Hours calls in a Leicestershire Practice” BMJ 1976, 1, 1582-1584.  

   Married Audrey O. Jones 1963.{ ex Cardiac Theatre Sister at Guys.}  Sons Graham, Alexander and Peter.   Grandchildren, India and Finn.   Hobbies :- Travel; gardening; photography; painting; DIY; salmon fishing; golf.

 Contact detail :- Dr Michael G F Crowe, Millstream Cottage, 40 Main Street, Cossington, Leics. LE7 4UU. Tel 01509812932. Email mgfcrowe@btinternet.com

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