It’s a sad time at BASICS Scotland but a happy time for Uncle Graeme as he is fondly known within the organisation as he hangs up his instructors badge, PPE and nurses badge to concentrate on his next chapter in life enjoying retirement.
Graeme has left his mark on the organisation since starting with us providing training in life saving skills to thousands of individuals ranging from public, school children, medical students and medical professionals of all levels. That total doesn’t include everyone else he has been involved with in his 40 year career with the NHS. Graeme officially joined the team in 2012 as Sandpiper Fellow and Clinical Educator but had been involved with BASICS Scotland since it’s inception. Recently, Graeme has represented BASICS Scotland internationally with his involvement in the European Resuscitation Academy from which he has shared his learning at the first Resuscitation Academies in Scotland.
Messages have been flooding in over Twitter and here are just some of them that sum it all up:
“A true Gent and let’s face it a bit of a legend in PHEC thanks for making us all better at what we do. Enjoy your retirement. You will be missed.”
“Absolute legend that man”
“Sandpiper House will never be the same again! He’ll be missed hugely.”
“Often copied, never bettered, one, if not the, best instructor I have ever worked with, I am lucky enough to have stood on the shoulder of giants.”
“A brilliant educator, great team player and a top bloke indeed, Graeme and his cracking sense of humour will be much missed here @BASICSScotland Enjoy your retirement”
“Very best wishes to Sir Graeme on his retirement!! His unique blend of humour and mastery at clinical education are simply irreplaceable!! Sad but happy!!”
“Can someone please clone him before he leaves us!!”
“Truly irreplaceable. Thank you for the support and laughs uncle G!”
“A true giant in resus training. Funny, gentle, and very skilled. One of the best instructors I ever worked with. What are we going to do without him?”
And finally as a send off to Uncle Graeme, we have included below just a selection of photographs we have collected over the years from his involvement with BASICS Scotland. Good luck and happy retirement Graeme, you will be greatly missed (including your wicked sense of humour) by all of us here at Sandpiper House.
Graeme’s last course
Retiral lunch and what’s in store for the future
Some pictures from the 7 years Graeme has worked here at BASICS Scotland

FREE TO USE PHOTOGRAPH....12.02.15 A unique 'Blue Light' assembly to place today at Perth Airport, home of Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance. SCAA will soon mark it's 500th emergency callout and to commemorate this landmark and to pay thanks to and acknowledge the working relationship with other vital services - crews, vehicles and aircraft who work alongside SCAA within the emergency 999 response network in Scotland gathered for this photograph. The line-up including police, ambulance, fire & rescue, coastguard, moutain rescue teams, RNLI, BASICS Scotland, First Responders and Royal Navy Search & Rescue. Picture by Graeme Hart. Copyright Perthshire Picture Agency Tel: 01738 623350 Mobile: 07990 594431