Anderton On December 6, 1999, Sydney Anderton, MRPharmS, of "Underwood", Fernhall Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 7DN. Mr Anderton registered in 1938.
Coughtrey In a tribute to the late Ernest James Coughtrey (PJ, January 8, p51),
Mr DERICK SHAW and Mr W. K. PRESTWICH write: We were saddened to learn of the death of Ernest James Coughtrey. Ernest trained at the pharmacy department of Leeds medical school after serving a three-year apprenticeship with Boots the Chemists. After completing his National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he rejoined the Boots company and after a period of relief work he was appointed manager of the company's branches in Bingley and Shipley and the Vicar Lane branch in Leeds.
After relinquishing management at the age of 60 years, he had a further spell of relief work and he finally retired in 1990. Unfortunately, he lost his beloved wife Yvonne shortly before he retired.
He was a good community pharmacist: practical assistance and kind advice were always available to patients, friends and colleagues. We were students together and we will always remember his good sense of humour and pleasant manner.
Our sympathy goes out to his son and daughters. He will be remembered with affection and respect by all who came into contact with him.
Crees In a tribute to the late Philip Crees (PJ, January 8, p51), Mr PETER COOKE (president, Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists) writes: I was saddened to hear of the death of Philip Crees, a former member of the guild council. I first met Philip soon after I moved to the West Midlands nearly 20 years ago. By then he had already retired but remained active within the local branch of the Pharmaceutical Society and also attended some of the local guild meetings. In recognition of his significant contribution to hospital pharmacy and the guild locally, he was awarded the 1987 Evans silver medal.
He was always keen to hear what was going on in hospital pharmacy, but more particularly about Dudley Road hospital, where I now work and where he had worked for over 25 years, ultimately as area pharmaceutical officer. Whenever he was visiting the hospital, he would always come and have a word, usually with an amusing anecdote about a long-since-retired consultant or matron. For some time he was a regular visitor when he was involved in work with a charity collecting unused medical equipment to take to hospitals in Eastern Europe. I last saw him in the hospital when he came to collect some painkillers from the pharmacy having visited the accident and emergency department after a fall, but he was still the same as ever with a cheery word and a story to tell. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family at this time.
Mr R. G. PATE writes: It was with sadness I learnt of the death of Phil Crees, one of the most amiable and dedicated pharmacists I have met. The obituary in The Pharmaceutical Journal dated January 8 (p51) describes his career and contribution well, hinting at his rebellious streak and, unusually for pharmacists of his generation, his high degree of commitment to trade unionism as a way of taking the profession forward.
Never one to duck a challenge, he was always willing to take on the establishment and, surprisingly for such a nice man, making himself unpopular in the process. It was perhaps for this reason that his receipt of the guild's Evans silver medal came so long into his retirement. Indeed, at the time, he even joked with me, saying how delighted he was with the award and recognition of his contribution to hospital pharmacy but, given his age, it might need to be presented posthumously.
I am delighted that Phil survived another 11 years after that, and I can tell readers that he remained a regular attender at his Royal Pharmaceutical Society local branch meetings and guild meetings. I can also report that when these meetings have been held on the same date in Birmingham, if they were at the same venue he somehow managed to attend both and with genuine interest constructively contribute to both, but in a kind and generous way. This was not an old man with nothing else to do with his time; this was a man who remained highly committed to his profession to his dying day. I shall miss his cheerful comments and happy smiling face.
Mr MERVYN MADGE writes: May I pay tribute to my revered old colleague Philip Crees. He was not only a pharmacist of wide knowledge and experience but a sincere man, who, in his actions and thoughts both individually and in official bodies, worked for the betterment of his fellow man.
Many a time have we, in discussion and debate, tried to solve world and pharmacy problems of the day and make our little contribution.
I mourn the passing of a caring pharmacist, a friend and a gentleman, in every sense of that word.
Glenister On December 2, 1999, Leslie Charles Haselgrove Glenister, of 37 Ashcombe Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon BS23 2XD. Mr Glenister registered in 1930 and retired from the register in 1999.
Rose On December 3, 1999, Ernest Henry Rose, MRPharmS, of 32 Kingsmead, Chester, Cheshire CH2 2LB. Mr Rose registered in 1931.