MUSIC helped bring harmony to Hugh Mather’s medical career, and the consultant shared his passion every Friday lunchtime by organising free classical concerts at Ealing Hospital.
He organised more than 800 concerts during his time there, calling on a network of instrumentalists to play with him.
“I can’t live without music,” said the 79-year-old, who retired in 2006 but oversees weekly concerts at the picturesque St Mary’s Church, Perivale, which attracts more than 100,000 YouTube viewings a year.
“I’d consider myself a decent pianist, but there is a gulf between that and being a top professional,” he said.
“A lot of students from around the world play at Perivale and the talent can be breathtaking.”
Hugh’s love of music is self-evident, with two pianos and an organ squeezed into the front living room of his Ealing home.
He is a semi-professional pianist and organist and admits he wrestled with his career choice. It says something that he considered medicine the easier option.
“I had a wonderful medical career but my love of music kept things in perspective which, I think, was an advantage,” he added.
“Medicine is a tough competitive career, but you have to be exceptional to make the grade as a professional musician.
“I am the organist at St Barnabas Church, Ealing, and still get great pleasure playing.”
One of Hugh’s biggest successes as a consultant was being the first person to recognise the increased risk of diabetes among the British Asian community.
This followed the Southall Diabetes Survey. His findings - gathered after knocking on every door in Southall, asking if anyone had diabetes - attracted worldwide attention.
"I have a lot of very fond memories of Ealing Hospital,” he said. “It was a lovely place to work and there was a great team spirit about the place.”
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