Bedford Modern School Year 12 student James Cullen is the winner of this year's Robert Luff Medical Scholarship.

The Robert Luff Medical Scholarship is decided by an essay writing competition with the winner receiving £1,000 fee remission per annum throughout their time in the Sixth Form.

The Scholarship was initiated by the late Robert Luff CBE for students intending to pursue a career in medicine.  Robert Luff is the School's greatest benefactor and donations to his fund for the School's benefit with accrued interest, have exceeded £1 million. Robert Luff was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1992 and awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours in 1995 for services to medical research and charities.  The School named the Robert Luff Centre in his honour.

The year's adjudicator was Dr Shorif Awal and James' 1,500 word winning entry involved an ethical dilemma between parents and a healthcare team.

James, who has 10 GCSE's and is studying Chemistry, Biology, Physics and History A Levels, chose to discuss a scenario involving a baby who has been successfully resuscitated by paramedics.  A week later, doctors confirm the baby has suffered hypoxic brain injury and will remain in a persistent vegetative state.  One month on, the parents state they will 'never pull the plug'.

The essay writing competition was open to all BMS Sixth Form students interested in medicine and 16 year old James chose the ethical dilemma because he could apply his own personal views.

For the past year, James has been volunteering with the Bedfordshire & District Cerebral Palsy Society (BDCPS) and this experience has given James enormous insight into the quality of life that can be enjoyed by people who have extreme challenges.

"It has become obvious to me lately that quality of life also has to be measured by the impact you have on the people around you.  My friends at BDCPS, despite their disabilities, bring an enormous amount of pleasure to those who love and care for them.  In most cases, the challenges presented make the carers better people than they may otherwise have been.  This experience has been one of the driving forces in my ambition to be a doctor," said James.

"One of the other questions involved more factual information about advances in medical technology whereas I thought I would be better equipped to answer the ethical dilemma because I could apply my personal and moral experiences," said James.

"By using my personal experiences I was able to individualise this topic in order that my response provided more than just a moral discussion about the rights and wrongs.

"I was surprised to win the Robert Luff Medical Scholarship but am delighted that my personal views and experiences carried enough conviction to overcome opposition from other very strong candidates," added James.

David Jenkins, Biology teacher and Medical Careers advisor at Bedford Modern School said: "I am delighted for James and I am sure that he will go on to read Medicine at University.  Well done to him."