Sydney Brandon

Emeritus professor of psychiatry University of Leicester (b Washington, Co Durham, 1927; q Durham 1954), d 6 December 2001.

After graduating, he turned first to paediatrics, but as a registrar it seemed to him that his clinics were full of disturbed children, and so he switched to psychiatry, where he remained for the rest of his career. Sydney loved entertaining, jazz, travel (either in a fast car or to a sunny climate), champagne, and malt whisky. He took great delight in car rallying at university, and later terrified some of his passengers as they were hurtled along empty motorways at speeds that sound implausible in print. He had an extensive collection of medical antiques. Sydney was witty, urbane, and dapper. Despite various illnesses over the years, he seemed to remain the same. In retirement he worked with sick doctors, the charity Childline, and made numerous trips to Rwanda, where he counselled survivors of the genocide. He leaves a partner, Jane, and two daughters.