Tail Lights - History of MedChir, a conversation with Cindy Chew and William Heeley

Abstract

Welcome to your brand new iteration of the
amazing Surgo! Well done to Eddie and Anna
for bringing our journal into the 21st
century.
The name of this column is courtesy of Prof.
Sir. Graham Teasdale (Medchir honorary
president 1981). Thanks GT!
"By providing a bright red light at the back
end of the car, tail lights ensure that all
drivers are aware of the cars’ presence and
they protect the car from being slammed
from behind by other cars" - Google.
Expect interviews with interesting folk and
maybe an opinionated rant or two!
My first piece is a chat with Billy Heeley (
Medchir alumni rep 23/24) who spent a year
piecing together the missing history of
Medchir. Enjoy!

History of MedChir, a
conversation with
Cindy Chew and William
Heeley
Founded in 1802, our MedChir Society is one
of the oldest Medical Societies in the UK [we
were pipped just a wee bit to the post in
Scotland by Royal Medical Society,
Edinburgh (1739) and Aberdeen Medico
Chirurgical Society (1789)].
William “Billy” Heeley is former Vice
President of MedChir. He successfully
discharged his duties in organising the
infamous MedChir Ball at the magically
transformed setting of The Engine Works.
It is perhaps inevitable, given our 220 year
history, that some details might be lost to
the sands of time. With the advent of
“modern technology”, the Society’s record
shifted from the physical form of a “minute
book” to a digital format. As a result,
information between 1980 and 2018 is
tragically missing. Billy set himself the task
of piecing back some of the missing history
for us. Let’s find out more…..

Billy, tell us a bit about your association
with MedChir?
I have been a member of MedChir since
Patrick Nicholas advertised it during
Fresher’s Week. I think MedChir – with its
myriad social, sporting and educational
events – is integral to being a medical
student in Glasgow. I have loved every
minute of it! I was the 1st year Rep, Publicity
Rep, then Secretary, before being voted in as
Vice-President last year.
What inspired you to “fill in the blanks” of
MedChir records?
While holding the office of Secretary, it
struck me that Glasgow Union’s plaque of
previous GU Presidents is on prominent
display at the entrance. It got me thinking:
What about MedChir? Where is our list of
Presidents? In fact, where are our records
pre-2019?
How did you go about it?
I spent an afternoon reading the old minute
books held in the University’s Archive; cross
checked names from those minute books
with published President’s addresses from
old copies of Surgo. Armed with a patchy list
of past presidents, I then spent the next year
and a bit Googling, searching social media,
sending cold DM’s and emails to every name
on the list - asking for their help filling those
gaps from their memories and knowledge.
What did you manage to find?
Wow! That is Impressive! Can you share
some of the highlights? Were there any
difficulties?
It was frustrating when I hit a wall and the
trail turned cold when folk didn’t respond to
my request for assistance. It was, by equal
measure, really fun when people DO reply
and I get another line filled! I remember
spending hours just reading up what past
MedChir members went on to achieve in the
decades after Medical School. People such as
Prof Sir Ken Calman (who changed the face
of post graduate medical training in UK and
ex-CMO of Scotland) or another who
operates an aesthetic clinic in Australia. The
range was incredible and really inspiring.
Can you share any funny stories?
A few records that stood out for me include:
MedChir Ball was held for many years in the
QMU – on account of GU’s stance in (not!)
admitting women. The MedChir Ball itself
was cancelled for a couple of years on
account of “apathy” and debates were held
on whether the serving of alcohol should be
discontinued on account of the general
“rowdiness” that ensured.
True story: I was at a GP placement with a
doctor whose name I thought sounded
familiar. It took me a while but I finally
twigged : the name was on the President’s
list! That was a really funny “6 degrees of
separation” moment for me. It was
fascinating hearing him recount his days in
MedChir and even better when he was able
to help me fill a few more lines on the list! I found 214 (out of 220) names

What is the point of all this work?
I think it is important to try and have as
complete a record as possible of our history.
If nothing else, it serves to show of how the
cultural mores of medical students change
over time. It is ironic and a real shame that
we have records from over a hundred years
ago but have somehow managed to lose the
most recent decades. We have a
responsibility to try and find that history and
preserve it for those who come after us.
How do you feel about all this work you’ve
done?
I am really proud of what I managed to
achieve in what is really a drop in the ocean
of time as far as MedChir’s history is
concerned. I feel very much that I too am
now woven into the fabric of the history of
our society.
What else do you think needs done?
It would be good if the missing history could
be found and put together with the rest of
the tapestry forming the history of MedChir.
Does the minute book post-1980 exist? Truly
magic if it could be found and returned to the
University’s Archives for safe keeping