Alan Maryon-Davis
Encyclopedia
Alan Maryon-Davis is a doctor
, writer
/broadcaster
and member of the humorous cabaret
group Instant Sunshine
.
He was born in Chiswick
, West London
, and was educated at St Paul's School, London, St John's College, Cambridge
and St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, King's College London
.
, he transferred to the field of public health
with a focus on health promotion and prevention. He was Head of Health Sciences at the Health Education Council (a national non-government organization based in London) and a member of various UK Department of Health
committees and task-forces on nutrition
, physical activity
, cancer
prevention, accident prevention, and health partnerships. In the mid-1980s he founded the National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention (now the National Heart Forum) and the Welsh heart disease prevention programme Heart Beat Wales.
In 1988, he switched to working at local level as a public health specialist in inner south London, most recently as Director of Public Health for Southwark (2002–07). He is currently President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health, Vice-Chair of the National Heart Forum, Councillor of the Royal College of Physicians
, foundation fellow of the UK Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, and an honorary professor in public health at King's College London
.
radio station
LBC
in the mid-1970s. He then became the BBC Radio 1
'doc' in a regular slot called Stayin' Alive with DJ David ('Kid') Jensen. In the 1980s he presented a number of series on health for BBC Radio 4
and was a co-presenter, with doctors Graeme Garden
and Gillian Rice, of BBC1's popular medical series Bodymatters. He wrote a weekly 'Dear Dr Alan' Q&A column in Woman magazine for 17 years and has written ten books on various health subjects for the general reader.
since its foundation in 1966.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
/broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and member of the humorous cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
group Instant Sunshine
Instant Sunshine
Instant Sunshine is a comedy musical cabaret trio who sing their own original witty and whimsical songs to acoustic guitar accompaniment. It was formed in 1966 by three doctors at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, Peter Christie, David Barlow and Alan Maryon-Davis. In 1972 they were joined by the...
.
He was born in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, West London
West (London sub region)
The West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow. The sub region was established in 2004 and was adjusted in 2008 to include Kensington and Chelsea. The west has a population of 1.6 million and...
, and was educated at St Paul's School, London, St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
and St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
Medical career
Following an early career in hospital medicine and general practiceGeneral practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, he transferred to the field of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
with a focus on health promotion and prevention. He was Head of Health Sciences at the Health Education Council (a national non-government organization based in London) and a member of various UK Department of Health
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
committees and task-forces on nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, physical activity
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
prevention, accident prevention, and health partnerships. In the mid-1980s he founded the National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Prevention (now the National Heart Forum) and the Welsh heart disease prevention programme Heart Beat Wales.
In 1988, he switched to working at local level as a public health specialist in inner south London, most recently as Director of Public Health for Southwark (2002–07). He is currently President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health, Vice-Chair of the National Heart Forum, Councillor of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, foundation fellow of the UK Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, and an honorary professor in public health at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
Media career
He has also been a prolific writer and broadcaster on health matters in a parallel career spanning over 30 years. His broadcasting began as the regular guest doctor on the London independentIndependent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
in the mid-1970s. He then became the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
'doc' in a regular slot called Stayin' Alive with DJ David ('Kid') Jensen. In the 1980s he presented a number of series on health for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and was a co-presenter, with doctors Graeme Garden
Graeme Garden
David Graeme Garden OBE is a Scottish author, actor, comedian, artist and television presenter, who first became known as a member of The Goodies.-Early life and beginnings in comedy:...
and Gillian Rice, of BBC1's popular medical series Bodymatters. He wrote a weekly 'Dear Dr Alan' Q&A column in Woman magazine for 17 years and has written ten books on various health subjects for the general reader.
Showbiz career
His third career has been as a member of the comedy singing group Instant SunshineInstant Sunshine
Instant Sunshine is a comedy musical cabaret trio who sing their own original witty and whimsical songs to acoustic guitar accompaniment. It was formed in 1966 by three doctors at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, Peter Christie, David Barlow and Alan Maryon-Davis. In 1972 they were joined by the...
since its foundation in 1966.
Selected list of works
- Werneke U, Horn O, Maryon-Davis A, Wessely S, Donnan S, McPherson K; Uptake of screening for breast cancer in patients with mental health problems; J Epidemiol Community Health; 2006 Jul;60(7):600-5.
- Maryon-Davis A, Press V; Easing the Pressure: tackling hypertension - A toolkit for developing a local strategy to tackle high blood pressure; London, Faculty of Public Health and National Heart Forum; 2005.
- Maryon-Davis A, Weight management in primary care: how can it be made more effective?, Proc Nutr Soc., 2005 Feb;64(1):97-103.
- Maryon-Davis A. Working with the media. Chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice (Pencheon D et al. eds), Oxford, OUP, 2001.
- Maryon-Davis A, Sarch L, Morris M, Laventure R; Let’s Get Moving - A Physical Activity Handbook for Developing Local Programmes; London, Nat Heart Forum & Faculty of Public Health, 2001.
- Maryon-Davis A, Non-cardiovascular benefits of exercise. Chapter in Marathon Medicine 2000 (Tunstall-Pedoe D, ed.), London, RSM Press, 2001.
- Maryon-Davis Dr. A, Family Health & Fitness, Octopus Books, 1981
- Maryon-Davis A, Blake Q, Feeling Good! Easy Steps to Staying Healthy, Age Concern Books, 2007
- Maryon-Davis A, Body Facts, Macdonald, 1984