Philip Bell

What I do as a member of the IP Advisory Group:

I have only just joined the Advisory Group so still finding my feet. I look forward to being able to contribute to the growth of the organization, so that researchers see Wales as a productive area in which to carry out their research with a bank of " trained" lay people ready to become involved. Members of the public do have skills, experience and knowledge to bring to medical and health research and I do hope that we can assist more of those "seldom heard" people to become involved.

When and why I joined Involving People:

In 2005 there were 9500 research grants totaling some £950m (BMJ 2006). It is my passion to ensure that members of the public have the opportunity to be able to have input not only in to these research projects but also have a voice in what research is carried out. I hope that being part of Involving People will enable me to help steer more members of the public to be involved. At the same time ensure that researchers are aware of the talent, experience and contribution that members of the public can bring to a research project.

What I did before Involving People:

Originally trained as a nurse in the RAF, I was invalided out after nine years service. I have had a mixed career, working with pharmaceutical companies and companies like Lloyds TSB Bank where I was a senior systems analyst. Taking early retirement when I was 50. Fed up with retirement! I then combined my PhD (Sociology) with volunteering for a charity and subsequently worked for them. I have worked for charities such as Parkinson’s, Steps and Emmaus. My last post was that of Chief Officer (maternity cover) for a Community Health Council. I really am retired now apart from my involvement with medical and health research as a lay person.

What I want to do, but haven’t done yet:

I have done many things in my life, travelled the world, met famous people, but I have never visited a nudist colony – with my shape I guess it is now too late?

Favourite famous quotation:

"I read the newspapers avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction." Aneurin (Nye) Bevan 1897 -1960 Founder of the NHS