Former general practitioner Northampton, 1954-88 (b 1919; q Middlesex 1941; MRCP, MD (gold medal)), d 15 April 2000. During the second world war he served in the Royal Naval Reserve. Suitable jobs were hard to find after demobilisation, but he became a lecturer in medicine in Bristol, gaining the membership of the Royal College of Physicians and the MD. He then changed direction and entered general practice in Northampton where his wife was already a consultant anaesthetist. He raised the standard of the practice, and his reputation could be judged by the fact that his list included many doctors. He took part in local medicopolitics, and was chairman of the local medical committee, the family practitioner committee, and the BMA branch. He was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. Peter expected high standards, but his sometimes austere manner veiled a deep concern for people and an insight into the human condition. He was an accomplished conversationalist, who delighted us with his witty, unrecyled aphorisms. He leaves a wife, Brownie, and four children (three of them doctors).

Former developmental paediatrician (b Newtown, Wales, 1924; q Manchester 1952; MD), d 4 February 2000. A breech birth left Vona with a paralysed right leg and bilaterally dislocated hips, but surgery by Sir Harry Platt (the first of its kind) when she was 4 enabled her to walk with a calliper. After various hospital posts she researched the obstetric and paediatric management of Rhesus isoimmunisation, which led to her MD. Her papers are still landmark publications. As developmental paediatrician to a neonatal referral centre she followed many low birthweight children with great skill. Her way of helping families with a disabled child was to use herself as an example and point to the many abilities that needed nurturing. In retirement, after the death of her husband, Vona joined Driving for the Disabled and became skilled at carriage driving. She was in demand to speak at the organisation's conferences. She sang in several choirs, played the piano and the bassoon, and loved travel. She faced increasing disability from carcinomatosis in her last year with courage and determination, underpinned by her deep Christian faith.

by Joan Carmichael and Edmund Hey

Former international medical adviser and principal medical officer Unilever plc, 1948-81 (b Rugby 1916; q St Mary's 1940; MFOMRCP, DObstRCOG), d 2 March 2000. During the second world war he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and after a few years in general practice joined Unilever in 1948. Despite being the epitome of a country general practitioner he was a great success at Unilever. But he never forgot his clinical roots and insisted on holding a couple of surgeries a week alongside his worldwide ambassadorial role. A compassionate and kindly man, his contribution to the success of the organisation as a business and human organisation was considerable, and he was regarded as someone to whom staff at all levels could turn when in need. He made no secret of not wanting to retire, and a few days later he suffered a cardiac arrest, but he survived a further 19 years during which he became an enthusiastic bowls player and pursued his interests in ornithology, gardening, and steam railways. Predeceased by his wife, Norah, he leaves a son; a daughter; and eight grandchildren.

by Michael Friend

Former general practitioner London, 1957-94 (b 1925; q Charing Cross 1954), died from lung cancer on 28 February 2000. He studied medicine as a mature student after serving in the Royal Air Force as a rear gunner and in India. After hospital appointments he joined an old established group practice in Hampstead, eventually becoming senior partner. When he retired he worked regularly as a locum—he always loved talking to patients but hated the increasing paperwork. During the last 10 years of his life he consulted at weekly clinics run by Camden's Spectrum project for the homeless, an organisation he supported vigorously. A keen sailor, he singlehandedly built a 50 foot glass fibre trimaran over seven years, and spent many happy years sailing it in the Channel and the Mediterranean. He leaves a wife, Maggie; two sons; and three grandchildren.

by M Gaze

Former associate specialist in geriatric medicine (b Cardiff 1933; q London 1959), died suddenly on 16 April 2000. She married as a student, had four children, and was 40 before she could do her preregistration year. She did all her on call duties. In 1975 she became a clinical assistant at Bexhill geriatric unit (now the Irvine Unit), taking over in 1981 as doctor in charge. She also assisted the rheumatologist. She had a gentle manner with a gift for collaboration, and the multidisciplinary team flourished under her guidance. She cared deeply about her patients. She retired early to look after her husband, and they created a fine garden at Staplecross. She also took up bookbinding and played the harpsichord. Predeceased by her husband, she seemed to adjust to bereavement but eventually found it insupportable. She leaves a son; three daughters; and two grandchildren.

by R E Irvine, T M Strouthidis, and S A Bruce

Consultant radiologist Leeds General Infirmary (b 1938; q London 1962; FRCR), d 7 January 1999. After senior registrar posts in London David became a consultant in 1971. He provided a gastrointestinal radiological service to the surgical unit. He was a founder member of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists, and held the offices of secretary and chairman of the radiology section of the British Society of Gastroenterology. He was a skilled interventional radiologist, and when anyone found themselves in difficulties with a recalcitrant guidewire it was David they called for. He published numerous papers and chapters. Away from work he loved mountains and was a member of the Alpine Club. For the last four years David had to cope with the progressive effects of metastatic prostatic carcinoma, and he did this with characteristic resilience, attending the infirmary for top up transfusions before taking off on strenuous European tours. He leaves a wife, Anne, and three sons.

by Bob Bury

Former consultant physician Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, 1973-93 (b Paisley 1934; q Glasgow 1958; MD, FRCP), died from metastatic carcinoma of the rectum on 15 February 2000. Tom combined academic and sporting achievements with good looks. He captained the university cricket XI and played in the university football team, including in the team which played the opening game of the 12th world university games in Hungary in 1954. After a three year commission in the Royal Air Force he entered hospital medicine and quickly achieved membership of the colleges of physicians of London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. He spent two years with the Medical Research Council's hyperbaric oxygen unit and for a year was visiting professor of medicine at McMaster University in Canada. In Paisley Tom played his part in college activities and was secretary of the joint royal colleges' standing advisory committee in general medicine and for seven years was treasurer of the Scottish Society of Physicians. Outside medicine he became a first division bridge player, learnt to speak Spanish, and played golf and tennis. He took early retirement but continued to do locums. He leaves a wife, Margaret (also a doctor), and three daughters.

by S G McAlpine and H Conway

Former general practitioner Newmarket, Suffolk (b 1905; q Glasgow 1927), d 9 April 2000. During the second world war he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was mentioned in despatches. Jimmy greatly enjoyed general practice—he was a partner for 50 years—from the days of home confinements, surgical operations at the local Jockey Club hospital, no appointments, and long surgery hours, through to modern appointment systems. He was above all a personal family doctor and tried to show the value of home visiting to his younger colleagues. He served on the Cambridge and West Suffolk local medical committees, was chairman of the latter, and was president of the Cambridge Medical Society. He leaves a wife, Kathleen (“Nubby”); a daughter; and a son (a GP in Canada).

by James Lang McNeill

Professor of clinical chemistry Edinburgh (b London 1926; q Cambridge/Middlesex 1956; FRCP(Ed), FRCPath; FRSE), died from myocardial infarction following an intestinal obstruction on 12 March 2000. Originally obtaining a natural sciences degree Gordon went on to obtain a PhD before turning to medicine. After qualifying he obtained a Rockefeller scholarship and went to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda to study catecholamine metabolism, and this work formed the basis of his MD thesis. In 1960 he became a university biochemist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and three years later was appointed to the chair of clinical chemistry at Edinburgh University. Here he built up a large and successful department and was one of the leaders in the United Kingdom of that evolving discipline, being particularly concerned with the development and assessment of new and automated clinical test methods and the use of computers in the clinical laboratory.

Gordon was also a major figure in university life, serving two terms as dean of the medical faculty, one term as vice principal, and on many committees. He was a talented administrator with a huge capacity for work and an excellent grasp of complex problems. His meticulous care and attention to detail, coupled with an unwillingness to compromise on matters of principle, occasionally gave rise to a degree of irritation in others given to a more pragmatic approach. Personally, he was rather reserved and close friendships took time to develop. Gordon was a keen gardener. He leaves a wife, Joan; two daughters; and a son.

by Alistair Smith

Consultant in general surgery and later urology York Hospitals Group, 1937-66 (b Folkestone 1904; q Cambridge/St Thomas's 1929; FRCS), died from heart failure and peritonitis on 20 January 2000. After house jobs he settled in general practice in York and was soon appointed honorary assistant surgeon to the County Hospital. During the second world war John served as a surgical specialist in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was one of the first to enter liberated Brussels and was awarded the Croix Militaire by the Belgian government. Back in York he and his colleagues founded the York Peptic Ulcer Research Trust, explored the place of Roux-en-Y anastomosis in relieving postgastrectomy symptoms, and took part in the first prospective randomised surgical trial comparing different surgical operations to cure duodenal ulcer. John was famous for his friendliness, courtesy, and Edwardian good manners. He enjoyed painting and poetry and late in life privately published a volume of his poems. He nursed his wife, Elvira, in her long, last illness, and, although he attempted to rehabilitate himself for continued survival, he died unexpectedly seven months after she did. He leaves a son; a daughter; four grandchildren; and a great grandson.

by Robert Hall