Monday 9 June 2025

South Lawn Hotel, Lymington Road, Milford on Sea , SO41 0RF

Monthly Meeting

Charles Rees - 250 Years of Fighting the Americans  

Charles explores the love hate relationship the US has with GB/UK because of common ancestry, common language and similar humour and music.

Most people know of the War of Independence in which the 13 colonies chose a democratic republic tempered by the rule of law over monarchy. But they are not aware of the false narrative which made Great Britain the bogey man to the US. They will not be aware of the war of 1812-14 let alone the pig war of 1859. They might be aware of the American Civil War but not be aware that most of that time GB and the US were on the brink of war and after the war ended GB paid the US huge reparations.

GB seized the North Atlantic trade following the war but as US GDP passed that of GB the US plotted our financial downfall completed by two world wars. In neither event did the US enter the wars to help us.

Charles Rees was a Family Doctor, GP trainer and GP Tutor concurrently for most of 38 years.  Just to ensure his spare time was utilised energetically, he was also the track doctor to the Poole Pirates for 20 years!  After retirement in 2010, Charles kept busy helping other practices and the RBH.  During lockdown he wrote a book about the life and decline of the Family Doctor and his experiences as a family doctor in a small town in Dorset.