Knowlson On September 29, Denys George Knowlson, MRPharmS, of Lime Tree House, 39 Uppleby, Easingwold, York, North Yorkshire. Mr Knowlson registered in 1948.
Martin On September 13, Mary Patricia Anne Martin (née Dodds), MRPharmS, of 4500 San Antonio Road, Yorba Linda, California 92886, United States. Mrs Martin registered in 1960.
McMullan In a tribute to the late Ronald Gerald Patrick McMullan (PJ,
October 14, p513), Professor IAN JONES writes: I was shocked to hear of the
sudden and untimely death of Ronnie McMullan. I had known Ronnie virtually from
the time he joined the Central Services Agency, as we had worked together to
devise short courses on the National Health Service pharmaceutical service for
pharmacists and preregistration pharmacy graduates in Northern Ireland.
Ronnie stood up well formally as a pharmacist. He looked for high standards
of practice and constantly encouraged all colleagues, and particularly younger
pharmacists and graduates, to be committed to their chosen profession and be
proud of it. Because of his position at the agency, he never refused an opportunity
to join training programmes or conferences if there was a chance to talk about
the NHS pharmaceutical service in Northern Ireland. He was keenly interested
in how the “system” worked in England and Wales and in Scotland and
how both compared with Northern Ireland. His work meant that he was in the front
line for sorting out policy and detail of prescription processing and, of course,
that meant the Drug Tariff.
Ronnie also stood up well informally as a pharmacist! He enjoyed life and he
was never happier talking to people about his and their work and other purely
social things. He always smiled and made both friends and new acquaintances
feel at ease even if he did not agree with them. He had an impish and irrepressible
sense of humour which was quite spontaneous.
He used this rare and special talent to combine formality and informality. Two
related instances particularly come to mind. Ronnie attended one of the Drug
Tariff courses that I ran with Geoff Booth shortly after the sudden implementation
of the “limited list” in the mid-1980s and the subsequent confusion.
He, like a number of others, attended as an observer. After listening to the
great and the good explaining how prescriptions were to be dealt with in Britain,
Ronnie announced “Oh that would not be allowed in Northern Ireland”
and “Oh, if a contractor disagreed with my interpretation of the new regulations
[regarding prescription reimbursement] he could always take me to court”.
Laughter in the group was inevitable and spontaneous. He had that special ability
to get over his point in a way which both entertained and informed his audience.
Ronnie was a great man. He served his profession well both in the agency and
as a member of council and president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern
Ireland. It is particularly tragic that his death should come after a lifetime
of dedicated hard work when he was contemplating a long and thoroughly deserved
retirement.
He will be greatly missed.
Soundy On August 26, Patricia Christine Soundy (née Murtagh), MRPharmS, of 17 Downview Road, Feltham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 8HG. Mrs Soundy registered in 1973.