For those of us working in various clinical and educational specialities of sexual health, the name of Baroness Joyce Gould is synonymous with a champion – our champion! Her record as staunch promoter of gender equality, as well as sexual and reproductive rights, is second to none. In 2011, I was fortunate to have nominated her for an honorary doctorate (HonDUNiv) of the University of Greenwich. This is what the University press page said of her at the time:
The Eulogy, the good words spoken about Joyce, were delivered by the outgoing Dean of the School of Health and Social Care, Prof Elizabether Meerabeau, followed by the acceptance speech by the Baroness herself.
Click these two images to see the videos of the speeches in full, a testimony to the passion, concern and care for sexual health by this amazing person.
To read about Joyce, in her own words, here’s a link to her autobiography: Witchfinder General. Amongst many other roles and honours, Baroness Gould is co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health (@APPGSRH).
Published by Prof David T Evans, OBE NTF QN PFHEA
"Teaching is not a job or chore, but a passion and love-affair with learning, a ‘performance’ of life which I gladly share with others." Me, 2014.
That's right. I started my adult learning career on 28 April 1974, aged 17, at the Prince of Wales' Orthopaedic Hospital, Rhyd-Lafar, Cardiff. After five years nurse education, then ten years with the Catholic Church (ordained priest 9 May 1987), I returned to nursing, for 7 months on an HIV ward, before commencing teaching on 6 April 1990.
I have been facilitating sexual health and HIV learning ever since: in colleges of nursing; the NHS; in a freelance capacity across health, social care, professional nursing (The RCN) and military welfare services, through to Higher Education. I am fortunate enough to back up these experiences of life with a shed load of academic and professional qualifications, ultimately receiving the highest award for 'excellence in teaching' in 2014 (https://drdavidtevansntfhea.wordpress.com/).
Nothing gives me greater personal and professional satisfaction than to share learning and my passion for life with others, of whom there have already been a few thousand others over these past years.
The real icing on the cake happened in 2017, when Her Majesty The Queen was "graciously pleased" to appointed me Officer in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, "for services to nursing and sexual health education".
In 2018 I added a PFHEA - Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (for "strategic leadership of learning and education") - to my CV.
"Ad moltos annos" - many happy years, to us all!
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Is there a Doctor in the house? 
One special person. She interviewed me for a place on the Independent Advisory Group for sexual health at the DH. I was fortunate to be appointed and so loved working under her leadership. She took no nonsense and did what was needed. I hope we as a group did some good. We hope she will stop by at one of the meetings. Kathy