2026 Colchester Medical Society
President Dr Paul Byrne
President Dr Paul Byrne
Biography
My father was a general practitioner in Stafford. He was a very charismatic man and at the age of five I decided I wanted to be a doctor like my daddy.
Throughout school I was always the classroom doctor, and classmates would ask me about various medical issues; inevitably joint sprains or muscle pulls. If I didn’t know the answer I would ask my dad and tell them the next day!
I trained at Churchill College Cambridge and Addenbrookes.
Then Junior Doctor hospital jobs in Wellington New Zealand, Manchester, Royal Free Hospital Queen Mary Hospital Roehampton, and Winchester. These provided broad training in surgery, medicine, accidents in emergency, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology.
Then deciding to pursue a career in hospital, I obtained my Membership the Royal College of Physicians and completed four years of registrar training in Rheumatology in Cardiff Wales.
In 1997 I came to Colchester and was delighted to join a friendly hospital with such friendly consultant staff!
Fellow rheumatology consultants Dr Durance and Dr Daunt were the ideal working partners and together be made a very good team. The Rheumatology department has continued to grow to meet spiralling demand and I have continued to be fortunate having excellent colleagues to work with including Dr Tom Walton, Dr Rachel Davies, Dr Lauren Steel and Dr Jobie Evans as well as an excellent nursing and administrative teams.
After 30 years of Rheumatology it continues to inspire me and I have been able to observe a particularly interesting period in its evolution. Molecules designed to specifically inhibit aspects of the immune system have been phenomenally successful, and have transformed the prognosis for many patients. Our understanding of the diseases has improved enormously and explanations of pathogenesis have become much more complete.
When I started as a consultant Rheumatologist I didn’t have a mobile phone, or a computer at work. Now it’s difficult to imagine life without them. Such is progress!
Living in Colchester has stimulated an interest in local history. I have set up websites detailing the history of the Colchester Military Hospital, the Colchester Royal Grammar war memorial swimming pool, the History of rugby at Colchester Royal Grammar. Providing medical support from the touch line for over a decade has been rewarded by the school making me an honorary Old Colcestrian - from which I take great pride!
The latest project is the history of the delivery of healthcare in Colchester and District over the last 250 years. A project only achievable with a big team effort!
I feel that Colchester has been very good to me. I have met lots of very nice people, including staff and patients. Myself and family have greatly benefitted from living here.
I am in a nice rhythm in a nice town doing a nice job with nice people. I would like to go on indefinitely but I know from my photos and my cycling and table tennis, that the ravages of time will play their part!
I’m particularly proud to be the President of Colchester Medical Society for 2026.
Amidst all the changes the constant is the enrichment we all obtain through developing and nurturing our medical friendships.
Our society helps provide this.
Floreat Societas!
My father was a general practitioner in Stafford. He was a very charismatic man and at the age of five I decided I wanted to be a doctor like my daddy.
Throughout school I was always the classroom doctor, and classmates would ask me about various medical issues; inevitably joint sprains or muscle pulls. If I didn’t know the answer I would ask my dad and tell them the next day!
I trained at Churchill College Cambridge and Addenbrookes.
Then Junior Doctor hospital jobs in Wellington New Zealand, Manchester, Royal Free Hospital Queen Mary Hospital Roehampton, and Winchester. These provided broad training in surgery, medicine, accidents in emergency, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology.
Then deciding to pursue a career in hospital, I obtained my Membership the Royal College of Physicians and completed four years of registrar training in Rheumatology in Cardiff Wales.
In 1997 I came to Colchester and was delighted to join a friendly hospital with such friendly consultant staff!
Fellow rheumatology consultants Dr Durance and Dr Daunt were the ideal working partners and together be made a very good team. The Rheumatology department has continued to grow to meet spiralling demand and I have continued to be fortunate having excellent colleagues to work with including Dr Tom Walton, Dr Rachel Davies, Dr Lauren Steel and Dr Jobie Evans as well as an excellent nursing and administrative teams.
After 30 years of Rheumatology it continues to inspire me and I have been able to observe a particularly interesting period in its evolution. Molecules designed to specifically inhibit aspects of the immune system have been phenomenally successful, and have transformed the prognosis for many patients. Our understanding of the diseases has improved enormously and explanations of pathogenesis have become much more complete.
When I started as a consultant Rheumatologist I didn’t have a mobile phone, or a computer at work. Now it’s difficult to imagine life without them. Such is progress!
Living in Colchester has stimulated an interest in local history. I have set up websites detailing the history of the Colchester Military Hospital, the Colchester Royal Grammar war memorial swimming pool, the History of rugby at Colchester Royal Grammar. Providing medical support from the touch line for over a decade has been rewarded by the school making me an honorary Old Colcestrian - from which I take great pride!
The latest project is the history of the delivery of healthcare in Colchester and District over the last 250 years. A project only achievable with a big team effort!
I feel that Colchester has been very good to me. I have met lots of very nice people, including staff and patients. Myself and family have greatly benefitted from living here.
I am in a nice rhythm in a nice town doing a nice job with nice people. I would like to go on indefinitely but I know from my photos and my cycling and table tennis, that the ravages of time will play their part!
I’m particularly proud to be the President of Colchester Medical Society for 2026.
Amidst all the changes the constant is the enrichment we all obtain through developing and nurturing our medical friendships.
Our society helps provide this.
Floreat Societas!
To See this years program please click on the NEWS tab
2026 OFFICERS
(Click on the highlighted names to e mail)
President Dr Paul Byrne
Past President Dr Phil Brown
President elect TBA
Secretary Dr Roz Mohamed
Treasurer Dr Greg Wynn
Archivist Dr Fabrizio Casale
Asst Archivist Dr James Sheldrick
Officers
Dr Max Hickman
Dr James Hickling
Dr Paul Kaiser
Dr Mike Hare
Facebook : Colchester Medical Society
Webmaster Dr Paul Byrne
You can e mail the webmaster via the News Tab.
(Click on the highlighted names to e mail)
President Dr Paul Byrne
Past President Dr Phil Brown
President elect TBA
Secretary Dr Roz Mohamed
Treasurer Dr Greg Wynn
Archivist Dr Fabrizio Casale
Asst Archivist Dr James Sheldrick
Officers
Dr Max Hickman
Dr James Hickling
Dr Paul Kaiser
Dr Mike Hare
Facebook : Colchester Medical Society
Webmaster Dr Paul Byrne
You can e mail the webmaster via the News Tab.
