Ian Menzies Gow
Former consultant anaesthetist South Manchester University Hospitals 1952-92 (b Manchester 1923; q Manchester 1946; DA, FFA RCS), died suddenly from ischaemic heart disease and thromboembolism on 3 April 2001. He served for two years as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, specialising in anaesthetics, before completing his training at Manchester Royal Infirmary. He became involved in all branches of surgery in South Manchester and Christie Hospitals. He had a special interest in anaesthesia for ear, nose, and throat cases with Treacher-Collins syndrome. These presented great intubation difficulties at which he became an expert. Ian and his wife were renowned for their hospitality and superb dinners, graced by choice wines about which Ian was an expert. He had many other interests including hill walking in the Lake District and in Wales; social bridge; the Times crossword every day; and photography and railways, both real and model. His special interest was gardening. He had encyclopaedic knowledge of flowers and vegetables and was expert on their cultivation in his large beloved garden. It was while resting after a morning in his garden that he died, still in his gardening clothes. He leaves a wife, June; two children; and two grandchildren.
Herbert James (formerly Justitz)
Former district medical officer Bexley (b Vienna 1926; q Edinburgh 1949; DPH, FFCM), d 7 March 2001. Herbert came to England with his parents and grandparents in 1939. His first abiding memory of England was the size of the old penny. He served in the Royal Air Force and then opted for a career in public health. He worked in Chesterfield, Blackpool, and Southwark before moving to Bexley as medical officer of health. After the 1974 reorganisation of the NHS, he became district community physician for the Guy's health district and then, after further reorganisation, returned to Bexley as district medical officer. He enjoyed music and the intellectual challenge of bridge, which he played well. He travelled widely and liked nothing more than meticulously planning his holidays. He leaves a wife, Gerda; two children; and two grandchildren.
by Alan Tranter amd Betty Ridout
Salama Fakhry Salama
General practitioner Birmingham 1980-2000 (b Egypt 1943; q Cairo 1966; MRCOG), d 26 December 2000. Salama or George, as his patients commonly knew him, came to Britain in 1972. He worked as a senior house officer and registrar in gynaecology and obstetrics until 1980, when he changed career to general practice. He began as a singlehanded general practitioner, but was later joined by his GP wife, Aida. He was one of the founders of the Christian Coptic Orthodox church in Solihull, Birmingham. He leaves Aida and two daughters.
by Emeel Ghobrial
John Rowell Simpson
Former consultant dermatologist Devon (b 1914; q Barts 1938; MRCS, FRCP), d 21 December 1999. Following junior posts at Barts, and the Royal Bucks and Devonport Hospitals, he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. In 1946 he became registrar in the skin department at St Thomas's, and in 1947 was appointed consultant dermatologist at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Torbay Hospital, and the North Devon Infirmary, where he continued until his retirement in 1979 (he left Torbay a little earlier). Sport was an essential part of John's life, and in particular athletics, boxing, cricket, and rugby. He played cricket for the Devon B team for many years. He loved the rivers Exe, Taw, Teign, and Otter when later he discovered the delights of fly fishing. John's sight began to fail, but not his zest for stretching himself. In his 80s, he would still walk up to 10 miles a day, accompanied in the last few years by his guide dog, Barney.
by Christopher Gardner-Thorpe
Charles Henry Stewart-Hess
Former general practitioner Wallasey and Devon (b 1911; q Liverpool 1933; MD, FRCGP), d 17 April 2001. He was medical officer at St Stephen's Hospital, London County Council, from 1933 to 1936, before entering general practice in Wallasey. During the second world war, he was medical specialist in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and saw service in India and Burma. In 1948, after returning to partnership in Wallasey, he welcomed the NHS for, among other things, the opportunity to avoid the irksome necessity of submitting bills. In 1952, Charles was a founder member of the then College of General Practitioners. He moved in 1964 to a singlehanded practice in Cheriton Fitzpaine, a small Devon village with a large surrounding farming community. He and his wife, Doro, ran the practice until his retirement in 1976. Charles's hobbies were golf, sailing, caravanning, cinephotography of natural history—especially birds—recording birdsong, and beekeeping. He made documentary films on “Life in a Devon village” and “Life of the farmers and husbandry.” He leaves two children and two grandchildren.
by D J Hammett
Martha Neill Algie Wilson
General practitioner Ipswich 1953-88 (b Ballyclare, Co Antrim, 1918; q Queen's University, Belfast, 1942), d 24 April 2001. Algie served in India with the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1944-5. On returning to the United Kingdom, she undertook postgraduate training and worked in hospital posts until moving to Ipswich to join a small practice. She regularly attended local medical committee and BMA meetings, and was president of the Ipswich and District Clinical Society in 1984. In retirement, although hampered by progressive Parkinson's disease, she maintained her interest in medicosocial meetings as well as enjoying the local activities in the world of the arts. One of a family of nine, she leaves a brother and two sisters.
by Sheila Hancock