The old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Lauriston Place is where it all began for my parents, Elizabeth Cousin and James Proffitt, Betty and Jim.
They met there in October 1950 when my father came to work at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, having just completed his National Service in the RAF.
My mother started work at the pioneering Blood Transfusion Service, the first of its kind, before moving to Clinical Chemistry to work for Dr C.P. Stewart.
In those days, Lab staff would frequently visit the wards to undertake tests on patients, sometimes with large and noisy equipment. My mother was very good at putting patients at ease and always demonstrated the tests beforehand to reassure the patient. My father admired her skill, dedication and application and wanted to learn everything. That admiration soon turned to something more and although it took him some time and a little encouragement to act on his feelings, he was overjoyed to learn that she felt the same. They fell in love. From then on, my father would get up early and take two trams to where my mother lived so that he could accompany her to work. Just so that they could spend some precious extra time together every day.
They were married in September 1958 and enjoyed 57 happy years of married life together.
My mother left “the Lab” when I came along. I was born at the Royal Infirmary in the Simpson Maternity Pavilion, as was my brother two years later.
My father spent the rest of his working life at the Infirmary. In charge of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory and then of other Clinical Chemistry labs in Edinburgh and the Lothians too but always based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). He was proud to work at the RIE, a hospital with such an illustrious history, a leader in medical progress and best practice for generations.
I remember visiting him at the Lab sometimes after school. Doing my homework in the Department library whilst waiting for a lift home. Over the years, I got to know quite a few of the people who worked there. They looked so smart in their white lab coats and they all impressed with their enthusiasm, professionalism and striving for excellence. They took pride in their work and in the knowledge that it helped to save so many lives. People from all over the world came to study and train there.
My parents also loved books and were both avid readers. They always looked forward to and enjoyed the Edinburgh International Book Festival. They loved attending events, browsing in the book tent and relaxing at the Café in Charlotte Square Gardens. They never missed a Book Festival in their lifetimes.
I think they would be happy that the place which meant so much to them in their professional and personal lives, the old RIE, will be used, at least in part, for something that they enjoyed so much, the Book Festival.