Casting Off

With a great deal of support from the Practice and my family, and countless good wishes from my patients, I have completed the six months I set myself when I returned to work in August.  My last working day is 31^stJanuary.  

As I look back over my 28 years as a Gosport GP, three themes emerge: that medicine is a fascinating and brilliant vocation; that having long term relationships with patients and families is the most joyous and satisfying part of General Practice; and that I have been very fortunate to work with colleagues who are committed to patient care, to each other, to the Practice, and to the wider community.

While off work last year, I concluded that the time had come for me to step aside from regular GP work, and to make a fresh start, doing something completely different.  So, in March, I start a one-year full-time boatbuilding and restoration course at the International Boatbuilding Training College (based in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard). For several years now, I have been dreaming of doing this course when I retire.  

Making the decision to retire a couple of years earlier than planned, has not been easy.  As I said in my July Newsletter, I still feel a strong loyalty to you, my patients, to the Practice, and to all those with whom I have enjoyed working.  However, I have come to recognise that it is time for me to leave The Willow Group, and to grasp this opportunity to do something I have long wanted to do.  A better work-life balance will allow me to enjoy more time with my family, who have come second to my work, too often and for too long.

I want to thank you, my patients: for placing your trust in me, and for your support, particularly in the more difficult recent years. Thank you especially, for all your kind messages of thanks and good wishes in the last year.  I have been deeply touched by them, and these last six months have been some of the most emotional in the Practice that I can remember.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my colleagues in the Practice, for all their generous and kind support and, indeed, to Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, who stepped in and supported General Practice in Gosport when it was at risk of collapse.  The NHS, General Practice, and General Practice in Gosport in particular, is under huge pressure.  I am proud of the team that I work with – they are hugely committed to you and to each other.  I wish them every success as The Willow Group strives to maintain and further develop the services you receive.  

I am casting off now, to set a new course, but I do so with many fond and happy memories.  I wish you and your families well for the future.

Very best wishes,

Stuart Morgan

Dr SRE Morgan, GP, The Willow Group

Last Monday, Sylvia and I drove up to Camberley, to take a couple of saws to Slava Rode. He had agreed to fit some new handles.

Sylvia had given me a pair of Pax saws for Christmas. Pax saws are the flagship brand produced in Sheffield by Thomas Flinn & Co (www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk). They are very fine saws, but I found the handles a little large. Perhaps I am spoilt, having handled so many of Slava’s restored and new saws. Anyhow, thanks to Slava, I have discovered that a well-fitting saw handle makes all the difference to how a saw handles.

Slava took measurements of my right hand, and we tried out some of his saw handles. I chose the wood, and Slava promised: “I’ll have them ready for you by February.”

True to his word, we returned yesterday to collect the re-handled saws. The handles have a traditional open grip with horns that lie snugly against my hand, and they are shaped specially for right-handed use.

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They fit my hand perfectly. It is surprising how saws which had felt heavy, awkward, and unstable, now feel lighter, balanced and ready for work.

I left Slava with a bottle of wine this time (!), and my thanks for a fantastic job. We went and celebrated with lunch at The Brickmakers in Windlesham – it came highly recommended by Slava and his wife. The food was super, so if you’re in that area, near Sunningdale – for the golf, or a visit to HRH Prince Andrew and Fergie perhaps – The Brickmakers comes highly recommended by us too!

From his modest workshop in Camberley, Slava Rode restores, refurbishes and sharpens vintage saws. He also has his own brand of saws that he produces himself, largely by hand. I’m not sure if would call himself a saw doctor, but why let terminology get in the way of a good blog title?

I visited Slava on Friday and spend a most enjoyable couple of hours at his home where he restores hand saws and makes his own brand of Greyhound saws. He sells on eBay, under the name mapputta, and his website is: www.greyhoundtoolworks.com

I had sought some information on one of his eBay items, and he kindly invited me to visit “even if you don’t end up buying anything.” So, I put a bottle of wine in the car, in case that happened, but – of course – I bought a saw instead … and later, at home,Sylvia and I drank the wine. To celebrate!

I took my collection of inherited rusted saws, donated saws, and Christmas present saws, and was surprised to find just how many there were! Slava looked over them carefully, pointing out the better saws, and finished by saying: “You’ve got all the saws you need.” Of course, fellow tool lovers will know that you can never have too many tools. I looked at dozens of vintage saws and a few of Slava’s beautiful hand-made saws. Spoilt for choice, what I liked most of all was the ability to try them in my hand, to find a tool that fits “like a glove.” A real treat. In the end, after trying out a few selected saws, I bought one of Slava’s lightweight dovetail saws. It will be super for really fine joinery work and, while I know that vintage saws made before the early 20th Century have far greater quality than the mass produced saws that followed, there is a certain pleasure in supporting modern artisan toolmakers, who take such pride and care in their work, and produce high quality tools as a result.

Slava generously showed me how he restores the vintage saws he buys, and the equipment he uses in his small workshop. I was really impressed, and inspired to get started on cleaning up my saws ready for work in Boathouse 4, and in my own workshop at home.

So, this weekend has been partly spent cleaning up a small steel-backed saw, and I am pleased with the results. Sandpaper and elbow grease for the plate; scraper, sandpaper, Deks Olje D1, and furniture wax for the handle.

It just needs sharpening now and, even though I am not yet ready to try, I’d like to learn the skill, and to become a Saw Refurbisher and Sharpener – even if I am not to destined to become a Saw Doctor!