Memorable Christmas in London
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
Christmas is a time of gift
Friends and families exchange it
They show love by reciprocal visits
They shared meals to make life rich.
(A Beautiful Christmas Tree)
I always remember Christmas in
Not that I went to Church as a Christian
But, because I enjoyed the Christmas Dinner
That was given generously by our Professor.
Professor Bowden was my supervisor
But she was more than a teacher
She acted as our mother surrogate
She looked after our health, welfare and dates.
(Professor Ruth Bowden,right, and MMN,left with black jacket
at Christmas Dinner in Her Home in London, England)
Near Christmas she would invite us to a pre-Christmas Dinner
Held at the medical school cafeteria for all her PG researchers
The whole Cafeteria at that time was crowded, boisterous and busier
But, she made certain that we all were well served and feted fairer.
(Roast Turkey and Red Wine)
Then she would thank us for enjoying her preliminary dinner
She would then invite us to come to her home for real winner
That will be served on the 24th night of the December
We all had to visit her to eat her home-cooked turkey and ginger.
(Carving of Roast Turkey that I Usually Did)
Yes, about ten or twelve PG students would turn up
Some with their spouses and children with much fuss
She would greet each of us cordially and keep us smart
Children would be given chocolates, toys and crayon works
Often I was asked to tell stories to children, some made up
Nevertheless, we all enjoyed her turkey that was delicious.
(Santa Clause is Darling of the Children at Christmas Time)
I had to carve the turkey during the meal
Every body thought I had the skill
But, I cut joints and sinews by conjecture really
I then distributed the cut pieces equally
Every body had a crisp skin, a meaty piece, a bone bat
They would crunch and bite with relish at that
Wine flowed and sweet speeches scored as success
Professor loved that and she would open her gift sets
Each of us got what we needed, that had been assessed
We would say a big “Thank you” to her and “Good Night”
She would send us back in her Roll Royce
Her chauffeur was at our service for several nights!
(Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, 8 Hunter St,
London WC 1, England, Old Place)
My Professor was never married
She was always single and happy
She took pride in teaching anatomy
She was a professor just over thirty
Her old mother boasted it repeatedly
(She lived with her daughter as company)
The youngest in her field’s history
She was later elected to its presidency!
(Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, North London)
She was actually born in
Her father was an officer of the British Raj
But she was sent back to
She was educated in
She had been a neurologist, neuroanatomist and physician
She was a medical educationist having been to many nations
That included Africa,
She had always a soft spot for people of former British Dominions.
(Map of Indian Raj, Burma and Ceylon now Sri Lanka)
She always invited us every Christmas
I have enjoyed three times as such
From 1966 to 1968 Decembers
I was treated more like a son rather;
We still had regular correspondence everywhere
She saw to it that I was always treated fair
In the Great Britain, Anatomical Society or in
I never forget her dedication, Metta and Cetana!
(A British Officer in Indian Raj Pampered by Native Servants)
Christmas is therefore ingrained in me
A kind of sweet and sincere ceremony
Friends exchange gifts and goodwill
Parents pour love on their progeny
Teachers impart knowledge on their pupils
My Professor had bestowed all of above in me
I’m fortunate to be a pupil of such giant personality!
(Professor Maung Maung Nyo Ph.D. Conferring M.Sc. Degree to
Dr Nan Ommar at Institute of Medicine 1 Convocation, 1985)
(To My Supervisor Professor Ruth E.M. Bowden
M.B., B.S. (
FRSM, FRSE, OBE, born 1915 died 2001)
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
23.12.2008
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