Few people who have been involved in the Transsexual community can have failed to have heard the name Russell Reid, but to those of you who are new to this little world then you are probably wondering just who is and what does he do?

Well the simple answer is that he is a Psychiatrist who treats amongst other people, people with gender identity problems!

So where is he based? He is based in Earls Court in West London, he has his own little practice there and I will try and tell you about my first ever trip there!

Well it was early summer 1997, and I was living in Taunton, and after several attempts to get NHS treatment, another TS recommended that I went and saw this doctor she knew of in London. So I got the phone number and made an appointment, it was for only 3 weeks time I couldn’t believe it, something was finally going to happen!!!

Well on the day of the appointment I eagerly drove from Taunton to London in my little beat up Ford Escort and arrived ridiculously early! After sitting outside for what seemed like ages I plucked up the courage to finally go inside…

Well his office is like a little paradise in West London, it is in the basement of a corner building, very discreet, and you go down some iron steps to a little alley that leads to a very large black front door. You push the buzzer and a friendly welcoming voice lets you in, stepping inside is like stepping into another world, time seems to pass at a different rate and the place is cool and very well air conditioned, far different to the hurley burley of outside!

The friendly voice belongs to Dr Reids secretary Christine, and she after checking details offered me a coffee and I sat and waited for the appointment. As I sat there I thought how many others had gone before me? How many others had started on the path to a new life in this very place? And how many were happy?

Well eventually the man himself arrived to take me into his room, he is a normal looking chap in his late 40’s early 50’s, its hard to believe that he has had such an impact on so many lives.

I won’t say to much about what we discussed as I believe that is personal, but suffice to say he investigated my background, my feelings and my hopes for the future. At the end of the appointment he was sufficiently satisfied that I was TS, and he gave me my first prescription for hormones. Still in a state of shock I left and headed for the nearest chemist and I have never looked back!