The Examiner's Rob Shaw discusses his story on a Tasmanian dermatologist who gave a diagnosis across the globe. Video by Aaron Smith (9/5/2024)
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00:00 Occasionally, as journalists, we get told stories that we instantly know we have to
00:04 share with a wider audience. Last week I heard the fascinating story of how a sharp-eyed
00:09 Launceston dermatologist came to the rescue of one of the UK's most successful comedy
00:14 writers and just had to tell it in the examiner. Colin Bostock-Smith has an extensive catalogue
00:20 of well-known TV credits, having written material for The Two Ronnies, Clive James, Telly in
00:25 June and Bruce Forsyth, and was responsible for popular puppets Basil Brush and Roland
00:31 Rhett. The 81-year-old grandfather also believes he owes his life to Mike Sladden. Born and
00:37 trained in the UK before moving to Riverside, Professor Sladden has practised dermatology
00:42 for 20 years. When he happened to Google a picture of Mr Bostock-Smith, he noticed a
00:47 concerning mark on his forehead which he feared could be a melanoma. With the help of a family
00:53 friend who just happened to be a former private detective, he made contact with the writer
00:58 in England and shared his concern about the mark on his forehead. Mr Bostock-Smith replied
01:03 saying he was speechless with gratitude. "I am absolutely amazed by your email," he wrote.
01:09 "Not so much by the main message, wee the enormous freckle, but by the thoughtfulness,
01:14 the care, the effort, everything that went into your determination to find me and let
01:18 me know your thoughts." He had the freckle checked out, it was a melanoma, and he had
01:23 it removed. He now genuinely believes he owes his life to this expert from regional Tasmania
01:29 who diagnosed his condition from the other side of the world. This week I spoke to both
01:34 men about the amazing story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed telling it.
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