An account of my life

This is the first instalment of the autobiography of John Horder. He intended it to be read solely by family and friends. However the London Journal of Primary Care subsequently persuaded him to let us serialise it for a wider readership. Those of you who are registered with the journal will be informed when new chapters are posted on the website. The autobiography as a whole is an important piece of history. It is remarkable for its humanity, perception and humility - much like the man himself. John is a founding father of modern general practice. He was doing his medical finals when the NHS was founded in 1948 and has been an active advocate of whole person, family and community-oriented general practice ever since. He became active in the College of General Practitioners shortly after its formation in 1952 and before it gained its Royal Charter in 1967. He was one of the two founders of the Leeuwenhorst European Study Group that defined the job description of a general practitioner in 1974. He was President of the RCGP between 1979 and 1982. He assisted the setting up of general practice educational bodies in several Western European countries, especially Yugoslavia and Portugal. He has been a tireless supporter of interdisciplinary learning and founded the Centre for the Advancement of Inter-professional Education (CAIPE) in 1987. He lives in Primrose Hill with his wife Elizabeth June, who was also his partner in general practice. Abridged by Maria Guihen (Ealing PCT).