From Mr D. K. Rayner, MRPharmS
SIR,-Reading the biographies of candidates for the Society's Council election (PJ, April 8, p536), I was intrigued by the differing degrees of experience offered. Some clearly had practical backgrounds; others, mainly political. Many had much experience of life itself; others had little or none. Surely a potential Council member should have all of these in sufficient measure to be equipped for the task ahead ?
In my early 20s I might have had the temerity to have presented myself as a Council candidate. I doubt that my peers would have seen this as anything other than supreme arrogance. Indeed, at that age I, along with thousands of newly qualified pharmacists, was serving Queen and country on National Service, and gaining invaluable experience of life itself.
Perhaps the Society's Council should decide on an arbitrary time period after qualification before a candidate can present himself or herself for Council election. I would suggest a minimum of 10 years.
D. K. Rayner
Bradford, West Yorkshire