Barnett In a tribute to the late Michael Isaac Barnett (PJ, March 18, p435), Professor DAVID LUSCOMBE (head, Welsh school of pharmacy) writes: It was with great sadness that my colleagues and I received the news of the untimely death of Michael Barnett. He had been a member of staff since 1959 when he was appointed as a lecturer in pharmaceutical technology. He was later promoted to senior lecturer and for the past seven years had been a senior research fellow, being jointly funded by the school and a Swedish/ German pharmaceutical company.
Mike was an excellent teacher, and his death will have touched the lives of countless Cardiff graduates. Topics such as particle size analysis, the rheology of disperse systems, and total parenteral nutrition will be remembered for the enthusiastic and efficient manner in which the subject matter was delivered, and for Mike's eloquent presentation skills. While not suffering fools gladly, he was always prepared to help his students and gave generously of his time to resolve both academic and personal problems.
Mike's contributions to scholarly activities were recognised internationally in 1976 when he was appointed a visiting professor at the University of Uppsala, which was the beginning of a long and happy association with Uppsala. He taught himself Swedish and, when awarded an honorary doctorate in pharmaceutical science by the university some years later, delighted his hosts when presented with his degree by responding in Swedish. Mike was particularly proud of this academic achievement, not least because Uppsala's academic dress included a top hat, rather than the more conventional mortarboard. As marshall of Cardiff university's graduation ceremonies for the past decade, Mike frequently donned this top hat as part of his ceremonial regalia. He wore the hat with great panache, although it has to be said that it was a continued source of amusement to graduands and fellow academics.
His research interests were in the field of particle technology and the stability of parenteral nutrition admixtures, areas in which he was an acknowledged international expert. As such, he was much sought after as a leading speaker at international conferences. He chaired many international symposia and often displayed a unique talent for composing a poem based on the material presented during the session. This would be read out as a summary of the day's proceedings, much to the delight and gratification of the audience.
He became a global traveller, earning respect and praise from all those with whom he came into contact, whether it be in China, India, Australia or the United States. No sooner had he returned from one overseas visit than he was booking his flight for the next. During such visits he proved an excellent ambassador for the school, much to our benefit. Needless to say, his repertoire of travellers' tales was unlimited, told in his own inimitable style.
Mike was a skilful politician and played a major role in both university and pharmaceutical affairs. His appointment to a 12-member executive commission to manage the merger of the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology and University College Cardiff proved to be a watershed in higher education in Wales. The commission met for 12 months during which it had the power of decision to act on behalf of both institutions in formulating plans for a new merged institution, now known as Cardiff university, which came into being in 1988. Twelve years on, Cardiff has become a leading United Kingdom university, rated in the top 15 for the quality of its research. Mike's part in bringing this about was a major achievement, although one for which many believe too little recognition was received.
He was elected to the Welsh Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 1987 and was chairman from 1992 to 1995. He was a former chairman and secretary of the Society's Monmouth and Newport branch. He also chaired a number of other bodies such as the British Standards Institution committee on parenteral devices, intravenous bags and disposable syringes, the particle characterisation group of the Royal Society of Chemistry and, for a number of years, the British Pharmacopoeia working party on particulate contamination in intravenous fluids.
Mike was a true professional, highly competent, articulate and knowledgeable, possessing a good sense of humour that lightened even the most tense situation. He will be remembered with great affection and esteem by his many friends and colleagues.
Our thoughts and sympathies are with Rachel and their children and grandchildren at this sad time.
Professor PAUL SPENCER writes: Michael Barnett's death represents the loss of a valued colleague and a very dear friend of some 30 years' standing. He spent almost all of his professional life in the Welsh school of pharmacy, and had contributed substantially to the developments in both teaching and research which the school experienced over the past 30 to 40 years. As senior lecturer in pharmaceutics, he contributed widely to the undergraduate programme. From time to time, his teaching loads would be heavy, but he always conceded that he was, after all, primarily a teacher. Yet his research flowered and was widely regarded by industry. His interests in the particulate contamination of intravenous solutions led him eventually into the intricacies and problems associated with parenteral feeding, to the extent that five or six years ago he took partial retirement from his academic post in order to give more time to his industrial consultancy, both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Michael was also a political animal. In addition to his work with the Welsh Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, he was active in departmental and university committees - and played an important part in helping to secure the additional human and physical resources that now form an important part of today's Welsh school of pharmacy. Although conservative in his attitude to university teaching, he was forward looking when curricular change was under consideration, and he played a very supportive role when attempts were first made to introduce elements of professional, social and clinical pharmacy into both the undergraduate curriculum and postgraduate activities of the school. He also played a significant part in the merger of the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology and University College Cardiff back in 1986, to form today's Cardiff university. Michael was the non-professorial member of the interim executive committee which steered the colleges into merger, and our vice-chancellor of the day spoke warmly of his common sense, good humour, occasional steel and consistent pragmatism throughout a difficult 18-month period. Both the Welsh school of pharmacy and Cardiff university have benefited to an unquantifiable degree from Michael's several and successive contributions to academic life in Cardiff.
For me, there is also the loss of a very dear friend. When I moved to Cardiff from Aston in 1971, Mike more than any other colleague set out to make me feel at home, to show me the ropes. We shared aspirations for pharmacy and the school; we shared other interests notably our passions for homes and families. At Christmas, he was seemingly well and full of life and enthusiasm. He will be sorely missed by colleagues and friends throughout international pharmacy.
Our thoughts now are particularly focused upon his wife Rachel, their children and grandchildren, to whom we offer our most sincere condolences.
Dr ANTHONY ARMSTRONG and Mr TERENCE TURNER write: We mourn the passing of a prominent Welsh pharmacist, for Michael Barnett's death leaves a gap in the lives of all those with whom he came into contact. He was active in so many spheres. First, as an academic at the Welsh school of pharmacy - a member of staff for over 40 years, most recently as senior research fellow. In recent years, he had stood aside from mainstream academia, and had pursued his major research interest, that of total parenteral nutrition, on which he was a universally acknowledged authority. He travelled the world advising and lecturing, he was the pharmacy representative on the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the All-in-One Newsletter, of which he was editor, bears testimony to his expertise in this field. It was left to a Scandinavian university to acclaim his status with the award of an honorary DSc.
He also devoted considerable time to the advancement of the profession. Starting in 1987, he served on the Welsh Executive for 12 years, carrying out the chairman's role with distinction from 1992 to 1995. He was one of the co-organisers of the sesquicentenary exhibition of the history of pharmacy at the Museum of Welsh Life in Cardiff.
However, it is as a friend that he will be most missed. He could converse entertainingly on so many topics - golf, rugby and opera come immediately to mind - and "travellers' tales" he had in abundance. This he coupled with a delightful sense of humour. However, behind the larger-than-life exterior, there was another Michael which not everyone was privileged to see - a surprisingly sensitive, generous and thoughtful personality, and in some respects he was a big softie.
We all have our fond memories of Michael Barnett, and we will miss him.
The size of the congregation that attended Michael's funeral at Cardiff western cemetery demonstrated the esteem in which he was held by friends and colleagues.
To Michael's widow Rachel, his children and grandchildren, we extend our sincere condolences.