On November 28 2012 we had the Open Day to launch SOCARS! Over 50 people attended including many senior representatives from the orthopaedic industry. After presentations in the morning, we went to the University of Southampton Campus to look at the facilities there. These included the 10 station hip simulator, the National Centre for Advanced Tribology in Southampton (nCATS) and the amazing micro CT scanner. The initial feedback was very positive, and I’m confident that we will be able to maintain the momentum to create a unique clinical and scientific research centre. Immediately afterwards I went to Evert Smith’s Hip Meeting in Bristol. This long established meeting has become better and better over the years and is one of the highlights of the hip surgeon’s academic year. There were some excellent debates between members of the faculty and the delegates, and as always I left the meeting feeling educated, entertained and informed. The world of hip surgery has been turned upside down by the problems created by metal hips, but I believe that it will emerge stronger and better informed by learning form the mistakes that have been made.