Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 236. doi: 10.1192/pb.24.6.236-b
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 236
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College Music Society
John L. Cox, President
Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG
Sir: Although I am not a golfer I was delighted to read Chris Thompson's
account of the inaugural meeting of the Royal College Golf Society and would
wish to give my congratulations to Robert Jackson. I note that this Society is
planning a further meeting at the end of the Annual General Meeting in
Edinburgh.
My prowess in golf is more limited than my interest in music. Most of our
now defunct mental hospitals used to have sizeable orchestras, some of them
conducted by their medical directors. Edward Elgar used to conduct the Powyck
Mental Hospital Choir and composed music specifically for its musicians. There
is now a broader consensus that psychiatry is a science, as well as an art,
certainly that psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have both
left and right hemispheres which need exercising. Judging by the curriculum
vitaes of many of my colleagues and of trainees applying for postgraduate
posts, there is an abundance of artistic talent among our membership. I will
try to convene an inaugural meeting of anyone interested in pursuing these
specific matters further. If there is sufficient interest we could even
arrange a very fringe event in Edinburgh during, or shortly after, the formal
proceedings.