The 30 year gap

1972-8

Our entry requirement was three Cs at A level but most people did better than required. We were selected without interview from the then called UCCA form. I joined at age 17 and the year of about 130 people contained mainly science students totally lacking communication skills. No one checked whether I could read or write. I certainly had zero caring qualities but this did not matter. The weekly curriculum was densely packed with lectures and practical classes in biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and something I still don't understand called “man in society.”

We dissected the entire cadaver apart from the foot, with special classes in neuroanatomy. This has proved very useful in later life. We did live physiology on real rats, dogs, cats, rabbits, and each other. We did every enzyme reaction in the book--such as grinding up rat's liver, adding white stuff, then watching it go blue. The word “enzymology” still makes me ill. The experience of insulin …