Emeritus professor of psychological medicine Institute of Psychiatry and King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry (b 1924; q Birmingham 1955; FRCPsych, FRCP), d 21 April 1999. Bob was judged too frail to study medicine, but after obtaining a zoology degree and a PhD in medical statistics he worked his way triumphantly through medical school. He was a senior lecturer in Birmingham, consultant psychiatrist to the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley, and professor in 1975. He found time to take on his share of administrative work, served on the Medical Research Council, was consultant adviser to the Department of Health and Social Security and to the Royal Air Force, and was chief examiner for seven years for the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Throughout his life he suffered debilitating illnesses, including myocardial infarctions from his early 40s. He viewed himself first and foremost as a clinician, and must be rare among psychiatrists to have had his treatment of a patient enshrined in a book by Janet Frame, later made into the film, Angel at my Table. Bob was a staunch advocate equally of psychotherapy and of drug treatments, undertaking research into both. An MRC multicentre trial of drug treatments in depressive illness was followed by attempts at the comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of dynamically oriented psychotherapy. He wrote on the planning of district psychiatric services and on psychiatric education. He had great charm and a love of literature and music. He leaves a wife, Ann.

Consultant anaesthetist University College Hospital London, 1946-79 (b south Wales 1914; q Guy’s 1937; DA, FFARCS), d 5 April 1999. David was a civilian medical officer at the RAF Hospital, Halton, and at the outbreak of the war he joined the Royal Air Force medical service and served in various base hospitals. When he became a consultant monitoring, which is now accepted as routine, was primitive. Recovery rooms were unheard of and the drugs available were limited. He introduced halothane to the hospital. David’s ability to deliver safe and skilful anaesthesia was quickly recognised and he developed a large private practice. He treated many eminent people and was awarded the Knight of the Pole Star for his services to the Swedish royal family. He cut a formidable and dignified figure, but registrars found him a fair taskmaster. He will be remembered for the excellence of his clinical teaching, including unusual nerve blocks such as that of the sphenopalatine ganglion. When he became deputy chairman of the medical committee he resigned some of his sessions as he became involved in planning the new dental hospital and the accident and emergency hospital (Cecil Flemming House). He leaves a wife, Penelope.

by Leon Kaufman

Former general practitioner Marylebone, 1964-95 (b Paddington 1929; q St Mary’s 1952; MRCGP), d 9 February 1999. Anne was the daughter of two general practitioners. After 10 years in north Kensington she joined her mother and brother in Marylebone, where they combined traditional NHS practice with innovations, such as the early attachment of a qualified counsellor and community psychiatric nurses. She was an inspiring trainer and her interest in teaching led to a sabbatical year as professor of family health at the American University in Beirut. When she returned she worked for the Medical Campaign for the Care of Victims of Torture. After retirement Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority employed her as a conciliator between GPs and complaining patients and to achieve the smooth introduction of the new complaints procedure. Her compassion and fairness made her ideally suited for this work. Anne was an active member of the Labour party all her life and had a deep social conscience. She had disseminated sclerosis for many years and developed progressive carcinoma of the lung, but she entertained at home almost as much as usual and managed to get to her beloved opera, concerts, and theatre in a wheelchair. She leaves a son; a daughter; and a granddaughter.

by Peter Willis

Former general practitioner Rumney, Cardiff (b Pontypridd 1925; q Cardiff 1950), died from a myocardial infarct on 4 December 1998. Osteomyelitis at the age of 10 left him with an above knee amputation—he vaguely remembered receiving a blood transfusion from a local miner who lay prostrate on the kitchen table—but many of his patients were unaware of the fact. One incredulous patient recalled him limping to his car after hearing a loud crack—“I’d better get back as I’ve broken my leg.” In a passport application he was at a loss to list any “distinguishing physical features.” Outside medicine he was interested in motoring, powerboat racing, water skiing, and gardening. He leaves a wife, Pat; two sons; and five granddaughters.

by Mike Jenkins

Former consultant physician and neurologist Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (b London 1906; q St Bartholomew’s 1934; MD, FRCP), d 8 April 1999. He first worked for the Bank of England and then changed to medicine. He spent two years at the Mayo Clinic before being appointed a consultant in 1939. In 1941 he enlisted in the medical branch of the Royal Air Force where he served as a neuropsychiatrist in the United Kingdom and India with the rank of wing commander. On his return to Norwich Kenneth established departments of neurology, diabetes, and rheumatology. In 1946 he was appointed to the medical committee of the Norwich Union Life Society; he later became the society’s chief medical adviser and served on the board of directors for 23 years, the last two as joint vice president. He became an internationally respected authority on life assurance medicine, being president of the Assurance Medical Society in 1963-5 and of the International Committee for Life Insurance in 1979. As a young man he represented Essex at tennis and played tennis and golf for many years. Kenneth was also a musician and an accomplished pianist, and he was able to enjoy his music and play bridge until a short time before he died. Predeceased by his wife, Priscilla, he leaves two daughters and a son; six grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

by Anthony Batty Shaw

General practitioner Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, 1974-99, lecturer in general practice Oxford, 1984-99 (b 1943; q Oxford 1970; FRCP, FRCGP), died from metastatic cancer on 27 February 1999. He first read mathematics at Cambridge before turning to medicine. In 1984 he joined the Department of General Practice in Oxford, becoming a lecturer in 1993, and was acting head, pending the appointment of the new professor. Martin was the first organiser of the annual Royal College of General Practitioners’ faculty new college course, and he developed strong international links, especially with the Nordic countries. He was an outstanding teacher and published widely, particularly on medical audit and quality improvement. He was active in the Thames Valley faculty of the RCGP. He leaves a wife, Annette, and a daughter and a son.

by Godfrey Fowler and Jonathan Moore

Former general practitioner Maryhill, Glasgow (b 1933; q Glasgow 1956), died from metastatic breast carcinoma on 19 August 1998. From 1962 she spent two years at Northwestern University, Chicago, contributing to research into the role of phage in the nephritogenic potential of streptococci. On her return she joined her father in the practice he had established in 1923 and where she was known by most of the families. In 1970 she was invited to become medical officer to Notre Dame (later St Andrew’s) Teacher Training College. This added lecturing, medical examinations, and counselling of students and staff to a busy practice and caring for an approved school for boys and a residential home. Ann embraced these roles with enthusiasm and dedication. She first contracted breast cancer in 1982. She used her recovery and years of good health, illuminated by her Christian faith, to encourage and support patients with the disease. The disease recurred in 1994, but she sustained her positive approach. Outside medicine Ann enjoyed entertaining, paintings, poetry (writing and reading), music, and her two gardens. She leaves a husband, Francis (a retired consultant physician), and two sons.

by David McCartney

Former general practitioner Middlesborough (b Newcastle upon Tyne 1920; q Durham 1943; MRCGP), d 5 January 1999. After war service in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the Middle East and north west Europe he started training in surgery, but soon accepted an opening in general practice. Jimmy was popular with patients and colleagues. He was secretary of the local medical committee from 1953 to 1973 and was delighted to receive the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of his long service. He was active in the BMA and was a keen freemason. Predeceased by his wife, Joan, he leaves three children and six grandchildren.

by Neville Rowell

Doctor with the flying doctors’ service Kenya (b Nice 1918; q Basle), died from a stroke on 2 February 1999. Born into a prosperous Swiss family she spent the war in Paris where she kept a safe house for the resistance. Arrested in 1943, she survived Ravensbruck, completed her medical studies in Basle, wandered the world, and eventually came to rest in Kenya. She worked first for a farmers’ cooperative; bought a farm; lived through the Mau Mau disturbances; had her farm compulsorily purchased; bought a smaller one; learnt to fly; and was invited to join Michael Wood, who was setting up the flying doctors’ service. Mama Daktari, as she was known to many, worked in Kenya until her death, flying great distances, holding clinics, and educating. The success of the African Medical and Research Foundation—an organisation run by Africans for Africans—is largely due to her work. She was unmarried.

by Anne Savage

General practitioner Wisbech, 1975-99 (b Saltash 1947; q Leeds 1971; DObstRCOG, FRCGP), died suddenly from heart failure after finishing his evening surgery on 25 March 1999. Ken was an enthusiastic Cornishman, but when he went to medical school in Leeds he became an adopted Yorkshireman. Sport really mattered to him; he was a cricket fanatic, playing regularly in his younger days and was a lifelong supporter of Somerset Cricket Club. It was a great joy that his three children had sporting talent. Ken had the innovative genius to get the finance organised for improvements to our surgery; he got charity schemes off the ground; was an active Round Tabler; an enthusiast for fundholding; and a leader in the debate over primary care groups. He was an inspirational trainer. He was always accessible and supportive to his partners and to his patients he was “our doctor and our friend.” He leaves a wife, Denise; two sons and a daughter; and his mother.

by Michael Hall-Smith

Consultant in geriatric medicine (b 1917; q Aberdeen 1941; MD, FRCP), died from carcinoid on 5 April 1999. His war service was with field units of the Royal Army Medical Corps in Nigeria, India, and Burma, where he was medical officer to a Chindit column, in the 1944 campaign, and in the Middle East. After training posts he was appointed in 1955 to organise a geriatric service for the north east region of Scotland, where he aimed at providing a high standard of care for every patient irrespective of distance from the main unit. He championed the traditional model of geriatric services, believing that the consultant should have his or her independent assessment and rehabilitation wards and control all aspects of care from preadmission assessment to placement in long stay care. He was visiting general physician to Orkney and Shetland for 12 years, built up extensive programmes for teaching junior staff, displaying exemplary skills of the bedside. He published on several aspects of care of the elderly, attended many international conferences, and was active on several committees. His retirement was full of travel, books, photography, and French language studies. Predeceased by his wife, Helen, he leaves two sons; a daughter; and three grandchildren.

by Ian Lawson