Dennis Rough 1995

DENIS ROUGH BBGS 1942- 49

When invited to become President-elect I was elated after recovering from the initial shock as I tend to keep a low profile in the various teams and committees of which I have been a member. I enjoy a nostalgic pleasure on looking back at the seven years I spent at the school when I took part in many activities at various levels. I was a member of the 3rd. Scout Troop and enjoyed their camps with some great characters. Then early in 1945 I found I was suffering from diabetes and needed insulin injections for the rest of my life. Soon afterwards my mother contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and afterwards I too was diagnosed as having the disease. It was considered mild and I was allowed to sit my exams. I was happy about this because I was well enough to carry on playing cricket and win my school colours for some good performances in the 1st Eleven and then obtain the Edgar Ellwood Memorial Prize for the best performance in Higher School

Chemistry. As soon as the exams were over however, I was admitted to Meathop Sanatorium and I spent three and a half years of the following six in three different sanatoria until a cure was completed in High Carley by means of major surgery on both lungs after which I was allowed home in August 1955. I then decided to take life more quietly having given up cricket and rock climbing. Joan and I decided it was time to get married, settle down and raise a family. Since the end of 1950 1 had been working intermittently as an analytical chemist with Vickers

Shipbuilders in the good company of Shipbuilders in the good company of many Old Barrovians. My health remained good for many years when I faced another calamity in 1983 in the form of a brain haemorrhage. I was deeply unconscious for about four weeks, but surgery was ruled out because of the instability of my diabetes and my family was told to expect the worst. However, I survived without the surgeon's help this time and with the support of family, friends and the medical profession was able to recover completely and returned home for Christmas and back to work the following March.

Finally, may I say how proud I was to have rubbed shoulders with so many at school who have made a name for themselves in international sports, games and in their professional careers. Some may think I have had a 'rough' deal healthwise, but I can't complain and feel I have been lucky to survive it in pretty good shape and look forward to more good years in the future.