DURING the late 60 s I was one of the blokes from Soham who built what was then the new Addenbrooke s Hospital. Now, almost 40 years later, I ve spent my first night there. On Saturday afternoon, I found that even though my bellows were pumping, not much

DURING the late 60's I was one of the blokes from Soham who built what was then the new Addenbrooke's Hospital. Now, almost 40 years later, I've spent my first night there.

On Saturday afternoon, I found that even though my bellows were pumping, not much air was getting through. The Princess of Wales couldn't help so we went to Cambridge. As always with our much maligned National Health Service everyone was wonderfully helpful, professional and efficient. I was hooked up to all sorts of things, photographed and had holes punched in both arms and my stomach, and I feel much better.

You could tell Sunday was All Fools Day! My first ever morning in Addenbrookes started when a nurse woke me up at 6.30am to take my blood pressure. She said it was a little high. I'm not surprised. It's bound to rise if someone wakes you up in the middle of the night. She must have meant it though. She didn't shout "April Fool" and I didn't laugh.