Retiral of Dr Geoff Bardsley

Dr Geoff Bardsley, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of the Wheelchair, Special Seating/Assistive Technology Services at the Tayside Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology Centre (TORT), retired after 37 years of service with NHS Tayside.

Geoff started his training at the University of Strathclyde but the international reputation of the Dundee Limb Fitting Centre lured him to Dundee in 1977 where he took up a post as a research fellow where he worked until the centre closed in 1999, moving to the newly built TORT Centre at Ninewells Hospital.

Geoff has become an acknowledged expert in his field, sitting on numerous national and international bodies and presenting the results of his research and developments at many conferences throughout the world. In addition to his NHS work, Geoff is an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Dundee and an Adjunct Professor at University of Pittsburgh.

A retiral lunch for Dr Bardsley, organised by his NHS colleagues and hosted by Professor Rami Abboud, Head of the Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, in the Gait Lab at TORT, took place on Friday 1 August 2014 to thank Geoff for all his outstanding services caring for patients with special needs and was an occasion to commemorate an outstanding clinician, researcher and a scholar for everything he has given to the NHS and the University of Dundee alike. 

Ken MacDonald, Prosthetics and Orthotics Services Co-ordinator said, “Geoff’s many friends and colleagues will miss his enthusiasm, professionalism and sense of humour. We wish him a long, happy and active retirement.”

Professor Rami Abboud commented “I have known Geoff for almost 26 years. He was one of the lecturers that left a great impression on me whilst I was undertaking my MSc in Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering at the University of Dundee and we subsequently became colleagues and friends. Geoff worked hard throughout his career and I have on many occasions criticized him for being in TORT working late hours, and his answer was always “what are you doing here late too?”. I was taken by surprise when Geoff announced his retirement as it was only one day after a successful meeting in TORT where we played host to the new NHS Chief Executive, Ms Lesley McLay. Lesley was impressed with what we offer at the TORT Centre and I was hoping that Geoff and I could take development forward but I fully respect and understand his timing; I will miss his presence and our routine chats and moans”. 

Rami presented Geoff with a set of engraved whisky glasses and mini decanter as a thank-you for his efforts and collaboration in supporting our teaching and research activities at the University.

Colleagues and friends would like to wish him a long and happy retirement; perhaps it’s time to bag those Munros again Geoff?