I am retired from my role as Director of Occupational Therapy (OT), Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. In 1972, my Fellowship was to visit Australia to study educational and clinical aspects of OT.

After eight years working in various hospitals, I decided to pursue teacher training, since there was a national shortage of therapists. I became a King's Fund Fellow to study the training needs of the remedial professions (1974-1976) and was then appointed Principal to set up a new course in OT in Aberdeen. I later gained an MEd and PhD (history of medicine).

I have sat on many national committees, presented numerous papers at national and international conferences, published articles in professional journals, contributed chapters to books and published my own book. In 2000 I was awarded the highest honour in my profession, a Fellowship of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and on my retirement in 2002 I was honoured with an MBE for services to the profession.

I owe a great deal to my Fellowship for its effect on my personal development. I played a large part in developing a three-year diploma course to a four-year honours degree course, and I am most proud of my contribution to documenting the history of OT.