Angus Graham Bird
Consultant immunologist Leicester (b 1950; q Oxford 1974; FRCP, FRCPath), died from a glioblastoma on 14 January 2000. Graham played a major part in the immunology community, and he gradually rose to international recognition through consultant posts in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Oxford, and Leicester. He recognised that clinical immunologists had to be actively involved in patient care, in diagnostic laboratories, and in research, and above all had to communicate effectively. In the last year of his life he wrote papers on subjects as diverse as mandatory drugs testing in prisons and the prevalence of coeliac disease in the community. He was a member of the Medical Research Council's Gulf War Advisory Group, developed regional immunology services, and was a popular teacher. He did all this while managing patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies and allergy. Graham saw his job as a fusion of the medical and political, and he was an active lobbyist for better specialist training and for improved treatment of drug using prisoners. His egalitarianism meant, however, that he held no truck with the conceit of medicine. His enthusiasm and energy were fuelled by idealism, and the rationale behind his arguments meant that, while he made waves, his ideas were frequently implemented. He leaves a wife, Sheila; his parents (both doctors); a son (a medical student); and two sisters (one a doctor).
James Gillan
Former general practitioner Ryhope, Sunderland (b Ryhope 1911; q Edinburgh 1936; MBE (military)), d 5 May 2000. His father and uncle practised in Ryhope, and James and his sister joined the practice. During the second world war he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was awarded an MBE for his service in the Italian theatre. He returned to Ryhope and for 31 years the mining village came to see him as one of the pillars of the community. “Dr Jim” was extremely shy, devoted to his practice and serving the community until he retired in 1977. He leaves a wife, Joan.
by R K Banerjee
George Kenneth Graham
Former general practitioner London, 1951-72 (b Dublin 1907; q Trinity College Dublin 1929; FRCSEd; OBE), d 12 January 2000. He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1931 and spent several years as medical officer to the Tochi Scouts in North West Frontier Province. He then worked in Peshawar and Lahore and during the second world war spent some time in the Chittagong area, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1946. After the war he was in charge of a hospital in Iraq for two years. When he retired he moved to Dorset, where he spent his time birdwatching, gardening, and playing golf. He leaves a wife, Nancy; a son; three daughters; and 11 grandchildren.
by N B Graham
Donald Sinclair Lyon
Former consultant pathologist Rochdale and District Group of Hospitals, 1963-87 (b Wick 1926; q Edinburgh 1952; FRCPath), d 17 February 2000. He did his training posts in Scotland and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before being appointed a consultant. He was one of the last general pathologists and held in high esteem by his colleagues. He was chairman of the medical staff committee, 1984-7, and chairman of the Rochdale Division of the BMA, 1972-3. Don was a committed Christian and was an elder in North Morningside Church of Scotland in Edinburgh and then in Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rochdale, where he also served as session clerk for many years. He was actively involved in the Rochdale and District Scottish Society and was president, 1967-8; played hockey for Rochdale Hospital; and later supported the town's football team as well as the Scottish football and rugby teams. After he retired he moved to the Island of Luing off the coast of Argyll, where he and his wife entered into community life and continued their association with the church. His enthusiasms were building model aeroplanes and stamp collecting, when he was not protecting his garden from wind, sea, and sheep. He leaves a wife, Elizabeth; three daughters; a son; and seven grandchildren.
by Alison Lyon, Catriona Main, and Michael Roberts
Charles Trent
Psychiatrist Park Prewett, Basingstoke (b as Czeslaw Stanislaw Trzaski in Poland 1910; q Cracow; DPM), d 15 April 2000. In 1939 he escaped from the German invasion and went to Beirut where he remet Maria who completed her medical studies while he joined the Polish Brigade. He fought alongside the British Eighth Army in north Africa and Italy and was commended for bravery, especially at Monte Cassino. After the war he was again reunited with Maria and they came to Britain, where they married and both became assistant psychiatrists at Park Prewett. Years later they anglicised their names for the sake of their daughter. Charles was a hard working and dependable colleague, courteous but unassuming. He was only belatedly persuaded to take his DPM; otherwise he would surely have been a consultant. After retirement he nursed Mary devotedly through a long illness—she had cancer and a paranoid psychosis and rigidly refused all outside help. She eventually had to go into care. Charles was then able to make several visits to surviving relatives in Poland and enjoy other holidays, but he developed parkinsonism. He leaves a daughter.
by Michael Salzmann