Aged
64. Married to Susan a trained orthopaedic and general nurse. Schooled
at Shaftesbury Grammar School and trained in medicine by the state at
St. Mary’s in Paddington. 1970 – 75 trained in orthopaedic and trauma
surgery at Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital, Exeter with one
year at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
Always independent of mind and a sceptic, this being of course an
essential quality in a scientist and doctor. Politically radical but
never a member of a party and a very committed life within specialties
that were much in demand meant that political action was damped. He was
galvanised by the B52s being used to bomb Afghan civilians from 32,000
ft after he had joined with millions in calling for an analytical and
judicial response to the cataclysm of ‘9/11’. He has spent most waking
hours since then listening, writing, speaking and marching for justice
and peace.
He is best known publicly for chartering a cargo vessel to carry
symbolic amounts of food, clothing and medical supplies to the poorest
folk in Gaza in February 2003 to focus ttention on an unresolved
conflict of 55 years duration and secondly to stand for peace and
reason against the violence and unreason of a looming and illegal war
on a broken country to the east of Palestine. He says he is motivated
by the child. He looks into the eyes of his two lovely grandchildren
and sees in them the eyes of the world’s two billion children. He
believes that not one should be harmed and that belief distinguishes
him and many others from many world leaders.
For relaxation he maintains the 35 acre of woods he had planted/planted
and uses his hands making ash hay rakes for instance. Sue and he are
lucky to be able to step out on to Dartmoor, which they cherish more
and more, with their two dogs.
Copyright © by David Halpin. All Right Reserved.
