edgbaston Dinner

The Chairman, Chris Marshall, wanted to have a dinner to celebrate the fact that we had survived the pandemic, and to thank the members for staying with us during the dark times. Despite the rapid onset of the Omicron variant, 58 people attended to what turned out to be a tremendous success, with excellent food. The photograph shows our retiring Secretary shaking hands with Declan Westwood, our Deputy Chairman, and John Smiths’ leaving was marked by the committee giving him a generous voucher and flowers for his wife Estelle. The Chairman thanked him for all his hard work on the committee since the inception of TASBE, and for the advice and support he had given.

Professor Bill Littler gave a fascinating talk about William Withering, whose house is now the Edgbaston Golf Club. It was interesting to note that during his professional life in the 1700s, he had worked at the General Hospital, plus travelling up to 6000 miles per year in his horse and cart visiting patients in the area, and treating symptoms of “Dropsy” with his new wonder drug Digitalis, which he had developed with his pharmacist sister. Foxgloves, the active ingredient of Digitalis remain around the golf tees. The 2nd photograph is of Professor Littler, plus one of William Withering. The success of the evening was marked by some who would like to repeat the event next year.

Written by: Christine Marshall