I started at Princethorpe in 1980, having only moved to the Midlands from Cheshire a week before. It took a long time to get used to the accents, but I soon realised that the school would suit me. I developed so many skills and personal attributes as I took on everything the school had to offer. I was one of two brothers to be Head Boy (my brother Jeremy did it in 1983-4), and was honoured to lead a fantastic group of prefects in 1986-7. It was an experience which formed me in so many ways - boarding and therefore having to look after myself, learning to compromise, delegate and listen to others.
In October 1987, I was only partially successful at A-levels, something I put down to too many nights at the Three Horseshoes and the Barn, but in retrospect it was because I took passing them for granted. I was incredibly fortunate to get into my second choice medical school, St Mary's Hospital in London. I got BCC at A level - nowadays 3 As are needed!!
I spent five fantastic years at medical school, mainly playing rugby and cricket, and drinking too much, and somehow qualifying, somewhat to my bemusement at the time, as a doctor in 1992. Things were very different then compared to now, as we worked very long hours but with great camaradarie and having great fun - life for young doctors is very different now.
As a houseman (first year doctor), I met a lovely young nurse on my ward called Maxine, very Mills and Boon! Twenty years later, we're still happily together, having married in 1997, and have two wonderful children, Libby aged 11, and Greg aged 8. I've worked throughout southern England, and since 2003 have been a hospital consultant specialising in Diabetes in Poole, Dorset. We're incredibly lucky to have found ourselves living in such a beautiful place, and I'm lucky to have chanced upon a job I love. In particular, in the past few years I've become very involved in postgraduate medical training having completed a Masters in Education, helping junior doctors as they train to become GPs or Consultants. I currently work for half of the week co-ordinating the early years of medical training in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.
My main passion, apart from my family, remains sport. In 2000, through a set of circumstances too long to describe here, I became a crowd doctor at the local football league club, AFC Bournemouth. I still do it to this day, having been through some highs (play off win in 2003, promotion in 2009) and lots of lows (too many to mention). My son Greg is now a football fanatic, accompanying me to every AFC Bournemouth match, and he plays for a local team that I've found myself coaching!!
As an experienced crowd doctor, I was privileged to be selected to head up a team of volunteers providing care for the crowd at the Olympic Stadium for London 2012. Being a London 2012 Olympic gamesmaker was one of the experiences of my life, working with great people, and having a ringside seat watching Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Usain Bolt and too many others to mention. One of the values I got from Princethorpe was to value helping others, and I think this manifested itself in my volunteering at the Olympics.
I still keep in touch with Joe Clune, my best buddy at Princethorpe, but have gradually lost touch with everyone else from the College (I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers me - mike.masding@talktalk.net).
I was privileged to spend time with some great characters at school, and the wonderful teachers who helped us to develop us as ourselves - especially (in no particular order) Mr Philpott, the Weirs, Mr Moroney (who dropped me from the rugby team, which taught me a lot - at the time it hurt, but now I can laugh!!), Mr White, Mr Darkes, Fr Whelan - I could go on and on. As we now have to choose a secondary school for my daughter, I just hope that she goes somewhere like Princethorpe!
