I grew up in George Square. My parents worked for Edinburgh University and it is fascinating to see the echoes of the old hospital coming through after its revamp!

At about 15, as a member of St Johns Red Cross, I volunteered to help on the wards on Saturdays. On one occasion, I was helping a nurse with an elderly patient, who was suffering from dementia.

As we washed the patient, the nurse patronisingly said ‘where has your wee handie gone?’. The patient quickly retorted ‘on the end of my wee armie, of course!’. I really had to struggle not to laugh!

Many, many years later I started my training as a radiographer at the Edinburgh School of Radiography – at Lauriston Place, (and now a hotel) and a lot of my placements were here, at the ‘Old Royal’. Those days were full of embarrassments, laughs and learning, and I have too many memories of those three years to be able to recount them here.

Suffice to say, I have lots of fond memories, and despite my apprehension, well done on a sympathetic rebuild!