Leading cardiologist Roy Davies given a ‘This is Your Life’ send off

AFTER 27 years at the Whittington Hospital, a leading consultant cardiologist is retiring.
Dr Roy Davies, who joined the hospital in 1978, worked at a number of posts before moving to the cardiology department where he finished his career.
The consultant was given his own This is Your Life style send off on Wednesday with patients and colleagues sharing memories.
Dr David Patterson, who worked with Dr Davies as a consultant physician and cardiologist over 20 years, said his colleague was a complex individual.
He said: “Roy was generous, fond yet mischievous. He was a real intellect – if you enter into a fight with him make sure you’ve done your homework.”
He added: “He came here as an apprentice so to get to where he got to in his profession was an extraordinary achievement.”
Dr Patterson, producing a photo of Dr Davies, told of the time when he went fundraising for the hospital dressed in a pink teddy-bear suit and came back with £10,000.
Dr Davies remembered the time Arsenal fans were injured when an escalator stopped at Seven Sisters Tube station in 1981. He had to leave his newborn daughter, Claire, with a sister and rushed off to the rescue.
He said: “The escalator stopped and everyone fell down like dominoes. Then they started it again. The injuries were horrific. One girl had half her face hanging off.”
Dr Davies said he was looking forward to retirement, “This place is full of friendliness,” he said. “There are brilliant and excellent junior doctors. I am sad to be leaving, but I have to accept there may be new blood that can do the job better than me. It’s time to go.”
He added: “I’m looking forward to slopping around on my lawn tractor.”
The departing doctor left behind a horseshoe as a gift for the hospital.
“I want this horseshoe to be hung over the cardiology department for good luck,” he said.