FOCUS - DECEMBER 2017 7 “Lesley and I have just moved into a new house, downsizing.” The couple met at Toronto Western Hospital. Bob was a Junior Rotating Intern, Lesley an Operating Room nurse. “She was from Australia, and had been abroad for some time, intend- ing to work her way home in stages. Eventually she would have left Toronto for Vancouver and then back to Australia. But she never made it that far!” In retirement, Bob and Lesley ex- pect to see more of their four grand- children, now aged six to ten. He beams, just speaking about them. “They make growing older pre- cious,” he says simply. Travel also figures prominently into their plans. “We love to travel, and hope to do more of it. And myself, I enjoy pho- tography and have a new camera I’ll get to know better!” Perhaps most telling are his per- sonal feelings on leaving his practice. He repeats emphatically his enjoyment of that half-century’s work, and points to the support he received over that time from his wife and two daughters as making it possible. He leaves a rich legacy: the town’s pros- pering medical centre and its well-respected hospital. Not to mention, of course, the countless residents who have benefitted from his professional care over that time. His 50-year milestone offered an appropriate and symbolic moment for the change. In his mind, he felt the time was right to step away. The decision was logically and emotionally thought through: deserv- edly, it was time to smell the roses after a profes- sional life well lived. He repeats emphatically his enjoyment of that half-century’s work, and points to the support he received over that time from his wife and two daughters as making it possible. He leaves a rich legacy: the town’s pros- pering medical centre and its well-respected hospital. Not to mention, of course, the countless residents who have benefitted from his professional care over His 50-year milestone offered an appropriate and symbolic moment for the change. In his mind, he felt the time was right to step away. The decision was logically and emotionally thought through: deserv- edly, it was time to smell the roses after a profes- sional life well lived. Dr. Bob Allin (continued from page 5) By Scott Mercer, Focus on Scugog PHOTO BY J PETER HVIDSTEN