Sir John David Nunes Nabarro
Former consultant physician Middlesex Hospital, 1954-81 (b London 1915; q UCL 1938; MD, FRCS), d 28 April 1998. The son of a pathologist, he was an extremely good general physician combining clinical skills with a scientific approach. John quickly realised the possibilities for exploiting the development of radioimmunoassays for peptide hormones and techniques for measuring thyroid and steroid hormones. He trained a large number of endocrinologists, many of whom rose to positions of distinction in Britain and abroad. An incredible hard worker he set a pace that tested the juniors who were fortunate enough to work with him. He was pre-eminent in clinical endocrinology and made major contributions to the studies of the pituitary and the treatment of pituitary disease, to analysis of adrenal function and dysfunction, and to reproductive endocrinology. At the same time he made important contributions to the field of diabetes, particularly in the management of diabetic keto-acidosis and the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents and new insulins. When he retired he became director of the Institute of Clinical Sciences. John was chairman of the executive council of the British Diabetic Association—he persuaded the government to give free prescriptions for disposable syringes and blood glucose test strips—a senior vice president of the Royal College of Physicians, 1977-9, and chairman of the Joint Consultants Committee, 1979-82. This involved critical discussions with the Department of Health, and during his chairmanship important decisions were made about the training of junior doctors, not the least was persuading people that there had to be a closer balance between the numbers being trained and the opportunities at consultant level. One of his chief interests was philately, particularly of the Netherlands. He leaves a wife, Joan (also a doctor); two sons; and two daughters.
Edoardo Parma
General practitioner Milan (b 1955; q Milan 1979), died from pancreatic carcinoma on 8 June 1998. Edoardo was a fellow in the department of psychiatry at the Luigi Sacco Hospital between 1982 and 1986 at the same time as he started his general practice career. He was a founder of the association to promote clinical research in general practice in Italy and in 1993 contributed to the launch of the first school of research in general practice in Italy. He witnessed the emergence of evidence based medicine in Italy and cautioned against making it a religion. He published many articles on psychiatric problems and drug use in primary care and the relationship between primary and secondary care. He leaves a wife, Cristina (a gynaecologist), and five children between 3 and 15.
by Vittorio Caimi
Mary Veronica Porter (née Burdett-Smith)
Former general practitioner Southend (b Nigeria 1954; q Charing Cross 1979), died from multiple sclerosis on 2 September 1998. Mary followed her father to Charing Cross and then into general practice. Before her illness caused her to give up work she was a keen medical officer in the Territorial Army and a conscientious and caring doctor with an interest in well woman clinics. Her twin interests of astronomy and science fiction combined to make her a keen Star Trek fan—a “Trekky,” and she relieved the long hours of inactivity with a complete set of Star Trek videos. Sustained by her Catholic faith, she inspired everyone with her cheerfulness and refusal to be defeated by her progressive deterioration. She leaves a husband, David.
by C B Burdett-Smith and P Burdett-Smith
Anthony Watson Purdie
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist North Middlesex Hospital, 1939-73 (b 1908; q Glasgow 1931; FRCP (Glas), FRCOG), died from old age on 16 August 1998. After junior posts in Glasgow and London he was appointed to the North Middlesex to be one of two consultants in a busy 100 bed maternity unit. He played a full part in developing a former poor law institution into a major district general hospital. He established a reputation as a meticulous obstetrician with high professional and moral standards. He was always immaculately turned out and unflappable even when bombs extensively damaged his wards. Always a devout Christian, after he retired he gained a bachelor of divinity degree and was ordained in the Church of England. He retired to Devon and took services in local churches where priests were non-existent or overworked. He leaves a wife, Erica (also a doctor); a daughter and a son; and a granddaughter.
by H Caplan
Rory Sadler
Senior registrar in anaesthetics Manchester (b 1958; q Dundee 1982; FRCAnaes), d in July 1998. After house jobs he was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1984. His strength and stamina were legendary and many of his less physically fit colleagues depended on his help. He joined the Parachute Regiment and then opted for a hospital specialty. He saw active service in the Gulf war—sometimes working from the back of a Land Rover or unsupervised in far flung military hospitals. He rejoined the NHS on the anaesthetic rotation in Manchester in 1992, but as with some of his contemporaries the transition to civilian teaching hospitals was not easy. He leaves a wife, Laura, and three daughters.
by John D C Bennett
Norah Patricia Sherlock
Former general practitioner Walsall (b Newcastle upon Tyne 1919; q Durham 1942; MRCOG), d 7 June 1998. From 1943-6 she served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in west Africa, where she was one of very few women doctors, and later in Germany. She was a registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology in Stoke-on-Trent before going into general practice, where she had a great interest in home confinements.
by Ursula Dickson
Michael Edward Skinner
Former general practitioner Ilkeston, Derbyshire,1957-90 (b Wivenhoe 1932; q Birmingham 1956; FRCGP), d from an acute myocardial infarction on 9 September 1998. Michael followed his father and joined his brother in the family practice and during the next 33 years the practice expanded from two to nine doctors. He was largely responsible for developing the rural dispensing component of the practice with a branch surgery attached to his home for many years. He was a police surgeon for many years, worked for the school medical service, the Red Cross, and St John Ambulance. In the face of some opposition, Michael set up the Derby GP vocational training scheme in 1972 and was course organiser for many years. After he retired he rediscovered his latent musical talents, particularly his violin playing. His other passions were engineering and restoring antiques. His consulting room became a workshop with clocks, vintage cars, and pianos. He leaves a wife, Nancy; a son and daughter; and a grandson.
by P J Enoch
Mark Stickland
Registrar Christchurch, New Zealand (b Malta 1963; q UCH 1990), died in a mountaineering accident on the Hochestetter Tasman Glacier in New Zealand on 7 August 1998. After two and a half years in London Mark moved to New Zealand and passed his fellowship in paediatrics. He was voted best registrar teacher at Christchurch Hospital by undergraduate students. He had just finished his first paper which is in press. The hospital has dedicated a newly built library and education centre to his memory. Outside medicine he pursued many outdoor activities, and as well as mountaineering he was an accomplished triathlete and lover of skiing. He would jest, “If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much room.” He leaves his girlfriend, parents, and a brother.
by Sharon Taylor
John Wallace
Former director Glasgow and west of Scotland blood transfusion service (b Edinburgh 1916; q Edinburgh 1940; MD, FRCPath), d from leukaemia on 30 August 1998. John emerged from medical school with a passionate interest in human physiology and he went to Hammersmith to work with Sir John McMichael and was involved in research on the resuscitation of shocked victims of the London blitz. He then worked with Sir Lionel Whitby in Bristol on transfusion practice for war casualties. Between 1946 and 1978 John contributed to research, was actively involved in the work of the Medical Research Council’s blood transfusion research committee, planned and implemented a strong community and scientifically based service in the west of Scotland, was an expert adviser to the health departments, played a major part in developing the Scottish national blood transfusion service, and contributed to the postgraduate teaching of transfusion medicine in Britain and abroad. He leaves a wife, “Johnny”; a son and two daughters; and 10 grandchildren.
by John Cash
William Derek Wylie
Former consultant anaesthetist St Thomas’s Hospital, 1948-79 (b Huddersfield 1918; q Cambridge/St Thomas’s 1943; FRCP, FRCS), d 30 September 1998. After wartime service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, he joined St Thomas’s and together with Harry Churchill-Davidson built up a department of high quality. They researched the new muscle relaxant drugs, usually experimenting on themselves, and wrote a textbook on anaesthesia, which has remained a classic. Derek was dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists and president of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland at a time when the movement towards an independent college was under way, a movement he supported. For five years Derek was dean of St Thomas’s Hospital Medical School and deeply involved in selecting and training students. He was on the council of the Medical Defence Union for 30 years and served as president for six. He was a quiet and approachable man and his firmly held views were courteously expressed. There are few people who have held high office of whom it can be said that he made no enemies and offended few. Predeceased by a son, he leaves a wife, Margaret; a son and two daughters; and six grandchildren.
by Aileen K Adams
Stuart Young
Former consultant surgeon Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow (b Glasgow 1918; q Cambridge/Glasgow 1942; FRCSEd, FRCSG), died from a coronary thrombosis on 5 August 1998. He served with the Royal Air Force during the war, partly in India. He remained at Stobhill for the whole of his consultant career and was appointed honorary surgical lecturer to the university. Active in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Stuart examined for the college in Britain, north Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. He was involved in the Trades House of Glasgow, being a member of the Incorporation of Tailors and eventually their deacon. Always musical, Stuart played the violin at school and was drummer sergeant in the officer training corps. He was a keen fisherman, but his main hobby was gardening and he won many cups and prizes for his dahlias. Predeceased by his first wife, Joyce, he leaves his second wife, Ann; the four children of his first marriage; and 10 grandchildren.
by A A Clark