About Us
Our History
The South Yorkshire Medico-Legal Society can trace its origins to 1977. It all began when Arthur Kaufmann organised a one-off multidisciplinary meeting about head injuries, inviting professionals from neurosurgery, medicine, law, psychology, psychiatry, and more. The meeting was a great success, with over 150 attendees turning out to hear from distinguished speakers such as forensic pathologist Alan Usher.
Inspired by this success, a society was formed to hold similar meetings on a regular basis. Since then, the Society has changed a great deal, but its goal remains the same: to provide a forum for medical, legal, and allied professionals to share knowledge and experience through education, lively debate, and social events.
Since its foundation, the Society has endeavoured to keep on top of the evolution of medicine and law, and regularly hosts talks from professors, coroners, consultants, lawyers, midwives, nurses, expert witnesses, and the police, who are able to speak about the cutting edge developments in their fields.
SYMLS also has a longstanding history of supporting local charities by raising money through social events, including an annual summer ball.
Officers Of The Society
(2019-2021)
Mr Glen Whitehead
President
Glen is a Solicitor in the Irwin Mitchell Sheffield Serious Injury Team. Prior to qualifying as a Solicitor Glen was a Chartered Physiotherapist, having worked in the NHS, as an Officer in the British Army and in the private sector.
Barbara Meier
Secretary
Barbara is a final year LLB Law student with an interest in medical negligence and personal injury and is soon due to study a LLM in Healthcare Regulation
Mr Andrew briggs
Treasurer
Andrew is a SRA Accounts Rules Compliance Manager in the Sheffield Irwin Mitchell office.
Committee
The Social Officer: Lesley Lomax and Rhiannon Booth
The Communications: Ellie Taylor
Honorary Officers and Additional Committee Members:
Seamus Burns
Nathan Chidambaram
Debs Eastwood.
Past Presidents
1980 – 81 Mr Gilbert Gray QC
1981 – 82 Professor Alan Usher OBE
1982 – 83 His Honour Peter Baker QC
1983 – 84 Mr D K Evans FRCS
1984 – 85 His Honour Michael Walker
1985 – 86 Professor W J W Sherrard FRCS
1986 – 87 Professor C P Seager
1987 – 88 Mr T Michael Napier CBE
1988 – 89 Dr Peter Jones
1989 – 90 Mr J A R Smith FRCS
1990 – 91 His Honour Judge Gary Burrell QC
1991 – 92 Professor Frank Woods FRCP
1992 – 94 Mr John Pickering
1993 – 94 Mr K T H Moore FRCS
1994 – 95 Mr Christopher P Dorries OBE
1995 – 96 Mr T W D Smith FRCS
1996 – 97 His Honour Judge Graham Robinson
1997 – 98 Mr Anthony Johnson MD FRCOG
1998 – 99 Mr Peter J Currie
2002 – 03 Miss Dianne Hallatt
2003 – 04 Mr Stephen Norris MD FRCS
2004 – 05 Mrs Judith Walker OBE
2005 – 06 Professor Christopher Milroy FRCPath
2006 – 07 Miss Cathie Delaney
2007 – 08 Professor Helen Whitwell FRCPath
2008 – 09 Miss Siobhan M Kelly
2009 -10 Dr Stephen Morley FRCPath
2010 -12 Mrs Lesley Lomax
2012 -13 Mr Seamus Burns
2013 -14 Miss Rhiannon Booth
2014 -15 Mr Richard Thyne
2015 -16 Mr Andrew Raftery FRCS
2016 -17 Miss Bev Tait
2017- 18 Mr Veeraraghavan Chidambaram-Nathan
2018- 19 Ms Anna Bownes-Webster
2019 – 21 Dr. Debs Eastwood.
2022 – 22 Dr. Michael Rivelin
What Our Members Have to Say
