Dr Neil Stirling MB ChB - now living in Cheshire - is Honorary Ambassador to Castle Comfort Stairlifts. - Head Office, Newcastle under Lyme, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.
When the founder of a Stair lift company from Newcastle under Lyme, just outside Stoke on Trent, heard that his doctor was retiring, it was all action stations. Keith Simpson, founder of Castle Comfort Stairlifts knew that his trusted family doctor for over 25 years. Dr Neil Stirling MB ChB - despite his age of 78 years - was not one to do nothing.
We'll come back to the story as to just who is Doctor Stirling shortly. But his impact on this family stairlift business and the stairlift market in general became an instant phenomenom.
These days, Doctor Stirling who lives in Cheshire,receives a continual flow of correspondence from people who have acquired stairlifts following his involvement, recommendations and contacts. Remarkably the most common situation is that people often discover that here is a stair lift specialist within a short distance of the buyer's home - and because such reasonably priced and very professional firms do not advertise and are very busy indeed - they have a low profile marketing wise.
Installations of straight and curved chair lifts - both new and reconditioned have in the past two year been completed in the following towns and cities where the recommended stairlift firm is based -
The list is not comprehensive or complete, but has many good examples ....
HUDDERSFIELD, EDINBURGH, BRADFORD, STEETON, KEIGHLEY, LEICESTER, ANDOVER, BLACKPOOL, CHESTER, LEEDS, WARRINGTON, HANLEY, CONSETT, GIZMOVILLE, GATESHEAD, MAIDSTONE, WHITBY,EASTBOURNE, ROCHESTER, NORWICH, SHIPLEY AND MANY MORE.... etc etc
In addition, Dr Stirling's own base company - Castle Stairlifts have become involved especially where the group now has regional offices, including -
Glasgow, Newcastle upon Tyne, York, Manchester, Macclesfield, Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham, Belfast, HQ at Stoke on Trent, Walsall, Stafford, Bristol, Bournemouth, London, Swansea and Exmouth.
NB Castle Comfort's expansion programme expects to have full showroom and stairlift facilities at these locations by the sunmmer of 2012.
The life and times of Doctor Stirling from humble beginnings as the first white baby to be born in Mozambique, makes fascinating reading. A career spanning six decades with numerous posts and positions in public and private health care - has now culminated in him being Honorary Ambassador to the Castle Comfort Group. Initially his duties covered customer liaison and his quickly enhanced knowledge of the mobility products sector - particularly stair lifts has resulted in his own website - see it here- which offers independent help and guidance when handling the task of choosing a chairlift company.
Naturally, Dr S's allegiance towards his home base in Stafford shire at Castle Comfort's head office, means that Castle themselves will be receiving business as a result of the doctor's involvement. But not every time. Depending on the geographical situating of those needing a stairlift - and any special requirements such as paediatric (children) or bariatric (heavy duty cases) then referrals are made to the best specialist stairlifts companies to deal with this. Sometimes firms pay a commission as a token of appreciation of the referral - and this is used in two parts - towards the running of the website - and to top up the Good Deeds Fund of which Dr Stirling is the administrator, and oversees the granting of free or part-subsidised stairlifts. By contacting Dr Stirling - you will learn a few things about stairlifts that are not obvious - and that some companies may not want you to know. For instance, if the stairs have a curved fan at the top or stairs off from a landing, then you may be budgeting for a curved stairlift sytem. But there may be an economic alternative. A Stoke City fan may help you. What? Seriously - just click on this.
Motor Neurone is an area where help is frequently given - as Castle Comfort's original registered charity was called 'The Doug Brown Motor Neurone Fund' Former Stoke on Trent Lord Mayor was an MN sufferer - and soon a dedicated blog can be seen on his life an times. Meanwhile go to Doug's story here. By a curious coincidence, Doctor Stirling, just before his retirement and the serious involvement with Castle comfort Stairlifts, lost his first wife Marguerite after she combated with MN for several years.
First please absorb some of the fascinating story of Dr Stirling's life - and in his very own words,
we'll begin -
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DR STIRLING
"My name is William Neilson Stirling, and I was born on 3rd January 1927 at a Medical Missionary station, which was
founded by Dr David Livingston ( I presume), in what was then Portuguese East Africa, and is now Mozambique. "In 1927 my father was a newly qualified doctor and the son of a Church of Scotland minister, who felt he wanted to spread the word and use his medical skills at the same time. He had studied at Glasgow University but had had his studies interrupted by the First World War. Following the war he completed his studies and married Janet, daughter of the local Bank Manager. Janet had herself attended University and had a degree in languages and was a gifted musician.
"The young couple went out to Africa where conditions were very primitive – it was at the Missionary Station, which was some two weeks' trek from the coast that I was born. I was delivered by my father whilst my mother held the paraffin lamp! I was only the second baby to be born at the Station and was the first white baby.
"My father was in charge of all aspects of the Station but the medical help he was able to give was restricted by the conditions and medical supplies available there. Most of his patients would have called to see him and many would have had to travel across difficult terrain to get to him. Communications were also difficult with letters to home taking on average 2 months!
"After 2 years in Africa he decided to move to India. He went to work for Findley & Co, a large company with interests in tea plantations and forestry. The family went to Assam in the North East of India where my father was in charge of several Indian doctors and also had responsibly for the hospital there.
"One of the benefits of the job was the fact that a car was essential to the position and at any one time there were usually about 3 cars as breakdowns took several weeks to get mended and spare parts were very hard to come by. My father had to cover a large area to look after his patients and transport was a priority.
"This move was a big change for us, as we now had a large bungalow to live in and a much more active social life. I had lots of other youngsters to play with and in my early years, spoke both Hindi and English! I still have a liking for Assam tea which I acquired from the time I lived on the plantation.
"Obviously I was very influenced by my father, and from a very young age I knew that I wanted to be a doctor – although I have to admit with a rue smile that I also always wanted to have a car and the only person I knew who had one in those days was a doctor!
"My father now had a chance to practice his medical skills to the full; acting as everything from GP to chief surgeon he had to undertake all kinds of work. Although life was a lot easier with Findley & Co it was essential to have a knowledgeable competent doctor in the post.
"As a family, we only had 6 months off every 3 years so the first time I came to the UK I was 5 years old. I went to live in Glasgow with my paternal Grandmother, and also had to start at school! I must confess that it was very traumatic when my parents returned to India, knowing it would be another 3 years until I saw them again.
"My parents moved back to the United Kingdom on a full time basis in 1948, after the Second World War. By this time I had a sister, Irene, who was of course born in India. It was a difficult few years for us as the war came very close to Assam and the women and children were evacuated to Lahore so large amounts of time were spent apart.
"My father returned to Glasgow and worked in the hospital there, specialising in Psychiatry. He was still working when he died – sadly from a heart attack at the very young age of 60.
"Meanwhile, I was pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor (and owning my first car!), attending primary and public school, and then following my father's footsteps to Glasgow University, which I attended from 1945 – 1950 studying general medicine. I continued to live with my Grandmother, and traveled to University on the bus every day. There were no grants available in those days and my father paid for my education. I really enjoyed University life, and worked hard to achieve my ambition of being a family doctor. I have to confess to also enjoying the odd drink at the Students Union, having been brought up in a teetotal household!
"Following completion of my education, I went straight into National Service, spending the majority of my time in Korea as a Regimental Medical Officer. Although no stranger to foreign parts, I found the climate there very harsh with very hot summers and very cold winters. There was no opportunity to return to Scotland during my tour of duty, the only leave I managed being a couple of short stays in nearby Japan for some R&R, where conditions were rather bleak in the aftermath of the war.
"Happier times were ahead after National Service, with my first job. I found a position as a trainee in Loch Lomond, where I acted as assistant to the local GP. I stayed in lodgings with an Italian landlady known affectionately as Mrs D. Once again I found myself in a very busy post where I was forced to learn quickly,
but I did have the opportunity to make some new friends. My most notable new acquaintance was a midwifery student named Marguerite, who by coincidence was born in Cheshire. Whilst it was work that brought us together, I knew from the outset that this was to be a special person in my life. Our first date was at the local Police Ball, where we got to know each other a lot better.
"Marguerite and I got married in December 1955 at her family church in Doddington, Cheshire. My parents and sister traveled south to attend the wedding. We honeymooned in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a visit to the theatre to see Much Ado About Nothing!
"In 1956 Marguerite and I moved to Liverpool and bought a house in Penny Lane. I had gained a position as an assistant to a GP and was again learning my trade with a hands on job. My two daughters Helen and Fiona were born during our time in here.
"Three years later, in 1959, we moved to Newcastle under Lyme where I became a partner in a family practice in Burslem, Stoke on Trent. I worked here until 1976, and my two sons Neilson and Crawford were born, during this period working in Staffordshire.
Although a partner, I still had to work hard as GP in those days had to do everything from taking blood pressure to making home visits - plus being on call! But it was what I had always wanted to do – look after people and make them well again.
"Although my father sadly died at the young age of 60, my mother lived to be 92, apparently none the worse for the exciting and adventurous life she had led, and so I returned to my native Scotland on a regular basis to visit her. My daughters followed in the family tradition of medicine with Helen becoming a radiographer while Fiona trained as a midwife. My sons however found alternative careers one studying at Agricultural college and the other becoming a financier in The City.
"In 1976 I took the decision to resign from the NHS to go into private practice – this was a huge step to take with a large family support, but it turned out to be a good decision as it gave me the opportunity to go back to old fashioned medicine with time to talk to my patients. The practice had its own dispensary, which enabled patients to be treated straight away. I continued here until 1987.
"From 1959 to 2003, I also had the privilege of serving as the local Police Surgeon. This was a job I enjoyed immensely as it was both interesting and eventful, with call outs day or night to attend such things as murder scenes, accidents or drink/driving incidents. I have many amusing tales to tell, including how I would decide if some was over the limit or not before the breathalyser came into being.
"My other commitments included a term as Chairman of the local British Medical Association, and as a member of the Stafford Local Medical Committee. I was also a senior officer with the Red Cross.
"The one tragedy during this time resulted from my dear wife Marguerite contracting Motor Neurone disease. She very sadly passed away in 2001.
"Although I am now officially retired, I am the honorary consultant for Castle Comfort Centre and their stairlifts division where I enjoy
spending time with the company and its clients giving them the benefit of my vast experience and knowledge.
"In recent years, I have acquired an in-depth knowledge of the mobility products sector – in particular stairlifts. As a result, I now enjoy life by enthusiastically providing free impartial advice, in response to constant requests for information. The ultimate result of this work is this website.
"Finally (until next time!), I have been lucky enough to meet another special lady - Sue, and we were married in January 2006. We now live a happy and active life in Cheshire."
Some of the letters and kind words of appreciation from recent happy stairlift 'pilots' can be seen here.
To receive honest, personal and independant advice on the subject of STAIR LIFTS , just ask Dr Stirling here. You will be glad that you did.
The Editor
LINKS
Doctor Stirling can provide useful information regarding GRANTS - often from unexpected sources. However - as you can see here - it's not always easy.
See who is NUMBER 1 on Google Maps.
Finally, not everything goes well with all stairlift companies - and The Daily Mail features something of a stairlift disaster ... SEE HERE .. HOW NOT TO MARKET YOUR STAIRLIFTS
