At the end of May 2022, former ENT & Audiology News editor, Professor Ray Clarke, retired from NHS work. Despite his exhortations for ‘no fuss,’ colleagues and friends at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK, where he worked as Consultant Paediatric ENT Surgeon for over 20 years, gave him a terrific send-off in which he was ambushed by a cake.
Prof Clarke was one of the first whole-time children’s ENT doctors in the NHS and has a particular interest in education and training. He was awarded the Silver Scalpel as best surgical trainer in the NHS in 2004. He will continue to teach for a day or so a week.
His other major project will be the 2023 ESPO Congress which takes place in Liverpool, 20-23 May. We will carry further coverage of this event nearer the time.
On his departure, he was presented with the most fabulous memento: a custom-made sculpture, engraved with his name, complete with anaesthetist!
Published in September, Clarke’s Diseases of the Ear, Nose & Throat in Children: An Introduction and Practical Guide (Routledge), covers the conditions most commonly encountered in the emergency setting, on the ward and in the outpatient clinic.
We wish Ray the happiest of retirements and look forward to chatting with him again soon regarding the ESPO highlights.
