Gareth is about 18 months into his three-year project about sick notes and sickness certification since the 1940s, and the WiP will discuss his plan to get a book contract and a plan for future research. Any and all comments on any aspect of the project are welcome. Some brief explanatory notes from Gareth and points for feedback:

• There is no hard “word limit” on this, so I’m happy to hear any suggestions on what extra information ought to be included. All suggestions are welcome.
• A lot of the references are far from exhaustive, and many are still notes to Future Gareth to tidy up. Any better references, and places where you feel I should expand the argument would be greatly appreciated.
• Quite a few of the arguments are based on my research to date – which isn’t complete – and might fall apart under the slightest of criticism. Please criticise them! I need to know where to focus my reading and primary research.
• Related to this, the examples I give are intended to give colour. I am aware that they don’t cover a great range of conditions, historical periods or identity groups. A final version will have to include more and will have to be more diverse. So if you have any good examples and/or opinions on the types of stories you’d like to hear, let me know.

So, the core things to get feedback on:

• Is this a book you would read?
• Does this make sense? (i.e. am I either assuming too much knowledge or over-explaining; do certain concepts need far more elaboration?)
• What aspects of this are most interesting to you? (Ideally, I’d like to follow up on strands that a potential audience is most curious about!)

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Sheilagh (Sheilagh.Holmes@warwick.ac.uk) by first thing Monday 25th Feb if you plan to attend, and also let her know of any dietary requirements.

We look forward to seeing you there.

All best,

Kathryn, Faby and Jane