home and where, we are delighted to know, Dr and Mrs Hall will continue to live. It was also the surgery until Geoff built himself a Health Centre nearer the heart of the village in 1974.

Geoff was educated at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School at Ashbourne, Denstone College and Manchester University. At Denstone and Manchester he was a power in the Rugby Football fifteen and was also chosen to represent the Combined Universities of England and Wales. A fellow member of the team at Denstone has revealed that his nickname there was "Bruiser", not because of any undue or illegal violence on his part, but because, though not particularly heftily built, he was so tough that his opponents bounced off him with selfinflicted bruises while he himself appeared to be indestructible. For several seasons he found time to referee our First Fifteen matches and he was one of the best referees the writer has ever known, scrupulously impartial and also stopping any funny stuff even though it might have brought him financial advantage.

He has always taken a leading part in local affairs, from Chairman of the Parish Council to School Governor. He was also the medical officer to at least two large local industrial companies.

In addition to his enthusiasm for rugger he has delighted, and still delights, in sailing, and was Commodore of the Rudyard Lake Yachting Club, which brings to mind an incident which is a typical sample of his devotion to duty. One Sunday some years ago, Cotton were playing the Staffordshire Gentlemen, when one of the latter was knocked out by the College cricket coach, a very fast bowler, and clearly needed expert attention. At the time Geoff was somewhere in the middle of Rudyard Lake, fifteen miles away, but, when the call reached him, he immediately came ashore, rushed to Cotton, stitched up the victim and returned to his sailing.

One would imagine that Geoff could quickly spot that scourge of doctors, the skrimshanker, but when it was a case of genuine illness, there were no limits to his kindness, care and sympathy. The writer knows this from the experience of his own family and there must be many others of the same opinion who live in the district and who are eternally grateful for the attention he has given them over the years.

One cannot end this tribute without a reference to Geoff's wife, Marjorie, who is herself an S.R.N., R.S.C.M., and midwife. It was very gratifying at the farewell party to see that she too shared in the many tributes and received a magnificent bouquet presented very appropriately, by Mrs Nancy Burndred, the first baby whom she delivered in the village.

We should like to welcome Geoff's successor, Dr Bruce Richardson, M.B., Ch.B., D.R.C.O.G., who by the time this reaches you will have completed six months as our doctor. For the last five years he has been in practice at Leek where he gained a great reputation. The omens suggest that in thirty-five years or so, someone else will be writing in `The Cottonian' on similar lines to the above.
FGR

At the end of the Summer Term Dr and Mrs Hall and Dr and Mrs Richardson attended a dinner in the Masters' Dining Room in honour of the retiring doctor. After dinner Dr and Mrs Hall were presented with a plaque/ plate bearing the Arms of the School. and an inscription recording our gratitude for their devoted service to the School.
ED

Dr and Mrs A. G. Hall

Dr and Mrs B. Richardson

MR PIERRE CASTILLE OC 1957-1964
Staff 1969-1979