One of the pleasures of history is going back to your original sources and finding something new. In this case it was an interview with Professor Jimmy Williamson way back in 2007.

Jimmy’s earlier career as a tuberculosis (TB) physician effectively came to an end by the early 1960s. He was a member of Sir John Crofton’s group which developed the triple chemotherapy cure.

He took an interest in the emerging but entirely unfashionable field of geriatric medicine largely because it replicated the TB team-based approach involving nurses, health visitors, and physio and occupational therapists.

It focussed on actively treating old people. Hitherto, they were largely ignored or shunted away in a corner of a hospital ward or other institution.

In 1976 Jimmy was the appointed the first professor of geriatrics at Edinburgh University. I’d forgotten that he had described this period of his life in the 2007 interview.

It now forms part of the 50th anniversary celebrations by Edinburgh University’s Ageing and Health group which sets the interview in its wider context.

We now live in an era of active promotion of healthier old age, not least in cycling where MAMILS (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) have grown into GERBILS (Geriatric Blokes in Lycra), of which I am one, and usually overtaken by OWILS (Older Women In Lycra).

So here it is – 15 minutes of wonderful reminiscence. I’ve updated a previous post on Jimmy with a link to this audio clip – alongside two others relating to George Orwell and TB nurses. Enjoy!

Categories: digital history, gems from the archive, history on the web, medical and nursing

Tags: Edinburgh University, George Orwell, geriatric medicine, Jimmy Williamson, old people, TB, Usher Institute