Green On July 24, Gerald Gould, MRPharmS, of 4 Queens Court, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HQ.
McMullan In a tribute to the late Ronnie McMullan (PJ, October 14, p513),
Professor JOY WINGFIELD and Mr DIGBY EMSON write: “Bon viveur” and
“life and soul of the party” are not terms which readily spring to
mind when mourning the loss of a worthy pharmacist. But while active on the
Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland council, in the civil service and
a recipient of an MBE, Ronnie McMullan will nevertheless be remembered by us
and many pharmacists in Britain as an irrepressible, witty and debonair companion
at conference and elsewhere.
So close to retirement, it is sad that he will not now see the outcome of the
detailed plans he made for his “third age”, but we feel he would be
content to depart as he did, in the company of his pharmacist friends and celebrating
life’s renewable pleasures at an evening banquet.
We will miss his genial humour and his total commitment to our profession and
offer our sympathy and support to friends and colleagues who will find his departure
such a sudden and huge loss.
Ritchie On September 2, David Ritchie, MRPharmS, of 8 Minstrel Court, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PH. Mr Ritchie registered in 1932.
Tuck In a tribute to the late Robert Derrick Tuck (PJ, October 14, p553),
Mr W. G. CLAPINSKI writes: Bob Tuck will be fondly remembered by pharmacy contractors
in Staffordshire for a long, long time. He was the local pharmaceutical committee
secretary for 38 years until his “retirement” from the post in 1995.
He loved pharmacy and worked tirelessly to promote, support and advise local
contractors. He dealt with countless contractual matters in a manner which
was always discreet, usually gentle, sometimes strong but always effective.
He invariably knew whom to approach and how that approach should be made
to achieve the desired outcome. Many disputes and hearings were avoided as a
result of his actions. A few wise words, one or two phone calls, an occasional
personal visit, the odd unprintable — that was his style, and it worked.
His hobbies were pharmacy, fly fishing, golf and pharmacy. A stroke, two years
ago, reduced his mobility around the golf course. In true Bob fashion, the problem
was solved by an electric buggy. I have no doubt that a remote controlled rod
was in the process of invention.
Bob died peacefully in the care of his devoted daughter Gilly, to whom we
extend deepest sympathies. Many colleagues paid their respects at the thanksgiving
service. Few will forget him.
Mr JOHN BALMFORD writes: Bob Tuck was for over 25 years the secretary of Staffordshire
local pharmaceutical committee. At the time, the work was largely honorary and
a labour of love. He frequently acted as “friend” to pharmacists at
terms of service inquiries. He also served for many years on Staffordshire family
practitioner committee. He was made a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society largely
for this work.
After serving an apprenticeship with Marlows of Wolverhampton and studying at
Birmingham central technical college, he registered as a pharmacist in 1941.
He was conscripted into the Royal Air Force in 1943 and worked as a radio mechanic,
serving in India, Burma and Australia. On demobilisation, he joined his cousin
at F. L. Dents of Stafford, which he took over in 1964, and from where he retired
in 1987.
He enjoyed his golf — at one time having a single-figure handicap —
and fly fishing.
He will be sadly missed by his colleagues and friends and by his daughter Gillian,
to whom I extend my deepest sympathy.