Frank Penson Frank William Penson, HonMRPharms, formerly financial officer at the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, died on April 27. He joined the Society's staff in 1931 and retired in 1981.

John Ferguson (former Secretary and Registrar) represented the Society at the funeral on May 4.

ROBERT BLYTH (a former editor of The Pharmaceutical Journal) writes:

There was never a more worthy recipient of honorary membership of the Society than Frank Penson. As the Society's financial officer (the former title of the head of the finance department), he husbanded carefully the Society's finances. Beyond that, however, he played a leading role in what proved to be an excellent investment, namely, the wise purchase from the Bedford Estate in 1958 at a cost of £230,000 (about £3.25m in current terms) of an area in Bloomsbury Square double that on which the Society's house was situated. Again, in the 1960s and '70s, he had a lead role in the purchase of the Society's Lambeth site, general oversight of the planning and building of the new headquarters on the site and organisation of the smooth transfer of the Society's activities from Bloomsbury to Lambeth in 1976.

He took a stern view of his responsibilities, but such was his strength of character that he was by no means unbending and indeed did not hesitate to confess error on the rare occasion he might lose an argument — a trait which earned my admiration.

At his last Council meeting, in December, 1981, he said that one of the privileges of his honorary membership, which he had received earlier that year, was that he would continue to receive The Pharmaceutical Journal. I can vouch that he continued to the end to read the PJ closely, and to take a keen interest in the Society's affairs. He did, however, with one early exception, resolutely refrain from returning to the headquarters building after his retirement, rejecting all encouragement to do so.

During the 1939–45 war he served in India, Cyprus, Palestine, and North Africa, taking part in the first battle of El Alamein. He was demobilised in 1946 with the rank of captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

It is sad, indeed, to lose yet another friend and former colleague. Our sympathy goes out to his wife Margaret and their three sons.

Leitch In a tribute to the late David Edwin Leitch (PJ, April 28, p597), COLIN RANSHAW writes:

I first met David in February, 1980, when, as chief administrative pharmaceutical officer for the then Dyfed and Powys health authorities, he interviewed me in his office at West Wales General Hospital. Following that interview I accepted the job and David was then my boss for the next five years.

David was always helpful and, because of his friendly personality, a chat over lunch with other workers in the NHS often dropped me, his quality control pharmacist, into some very interesting tasks. In this way, we developed one of the few pharmacy therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic services, monitoring of asbestos, monitoring of ozone in physiotherapy, sulphur dioxide in X-ray, etc. Life was certainly interesting with David.

He was always an active pharmacy politician being involved with committees and setting and establishing policies, both at local and at all-Wales level. Within a short period, I was moving along the same pathway thanks to his guidance and support or, shall I say, his persuasive powers. One remarkable eccentricity of David was his ability to quote frequently at meetings from memory the specific reference numbers and exact year of health circulars and other documents that had been issued.

David was a mine of information on many subjects, not least smallholdings. He engaged me with his many exploits as a pot-holer and the incidents he was involved with, usually told to me on a Monday morning, left me astounded. But I will always remember the winter of 1981–82 when I was snow bound for over two weeks. Did this affect David? Certainly not. He skied to work.

I have many fond memories of this endearing, sometimes eccentric man who helped shape my career, and I shall miss him dearly. He was a proud Welshman with a love and dedication for the culture and language of Wales. My thoughts are with his wife Sheila and his daughter Susan at this sad time.

JOHN HOUGH writes:

I first met David in 1974 when he was appointed chief administrative pharmaceutical officer to both Dyfed and Powys area health authorities. I was then secretary of Dyfed local pharmaceutical committee and afterwards became chairman of the newly constituted area pharmaceutical committee. Consequently David and I met regularly before meetings and we became good friends. I shall always be grateful for all the help and advice he so readily gave me whenever I needed it.

He was an extremely knowledgable pharmacist who kept up to date through pharmacy postgraduate education and by attending meetings of his local branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He was an excellent administrator and his reports and the views that he expressed in committees were always clear and concise. I well remember the chairman of the authority telling me that he had a high opinion of David's abilities and the quiet but efficient way in which he contributed to the work of the authority.

I am sure that all pharmacists and others in Dyfed and Powys who came into contact with David will feel a great sense of loss at his passing but he will be remembered with great affection and esteem.

We extend our deep sympathy to David's wife Sheila and their daughter Susan.

DERWYN THOMAS (pharmaceutical adviser to the Welsh Office, 1974–87) writes:

David was an efficient, effective and well respected chief administrative pharmaceutical officer for Dyfed and Powys health authorities and he successfully overcame the difficulties created by operating from two headquarters. For many years he was a member of the All Wales Drugs and Dressings Committees, which reported to the Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation, later renamed the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. His knowledgable contributions were sound and forward looking.

A long-term strategy working group was established in May, 1983, by the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee (WPC) in response to the perceived need to study the changing demands on the profession in Wales likely to arise from new technology, rising expectations of health care, demographic changes and other factors during the next 30 years and produce a strategic plan. David was appointed chairman. His report was submitted to the WPC in February, 1985, and widely distributed.

David was for some time a member of the WPC and its drug information subcommittee. A strategy for “Drug information in Wales” was annexed to the above report as an example of a more detailed paper.

David was a private person, but approachable. He was interested in geology, and his interest in learning Welsh was admirable. Recently, he participated in the establishment of the Brecknock Wildlife Memorial Trust.

David will be sadly missed and we extend our sympathy to hs wife Sheila and daughter Susan.

Bailey On March 27, Ernest George Bailey, MRPharmS, of 1 Heathlands Avenue, Ferndown, Wimborne, Dorset BH22 8RW. Mr Bailey registered in 1935.

Mcewan On March 1, Alexander Hunter McEwan, MRPharmS, of “Cessnock”, Maitland Street, Leven, Fife KY8 4RE. Mr Mcewan registered in 1933.

Macvean Recently, Beatrice Edwina May Macvean, MRPharmS, of 216 Croydon Road, Elmers End, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4DE. Miss Macvean registered in 1952.

Pringle On March 28, James William Pringle, MRPharmS, of 1 Cottage Dunselma House, Main Road, Fenwick, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Mr Pringle registered in 1941.

Wilcockson On January 21, Joseph Robin Wilcockson, MRPharmS, of “The Homestead”, 62 Main Street, Palterton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Mr Wilcockson registered in 1948.

Yeo On March 20, Norman Grenville Yeo, MRPharmS, of 20 Beechwood Park, Highlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8NL. Mr Yeo registered in 1949.

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