The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7161 p227-229
18 August 2001

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Careers in pharmacy

Diversity of experience and adventure

From Mr W. Coltart, MRPharmS

May I suggest to Leonard Chapman (PJ, 14 July) that there is no necessity to step outside pharmacy to enjoy a rich and satisfying career. On qualifying in 1951 I was called up for National Service and served as pharmacy manager in several British military hospitals, commencing in Colchester before being posted to the Far East during the Malayan emergency. In the Far East, I served first in Singapore gaining experience in the treatment of gunshot wounds and other battle casualties. My next posting was to Kinrara, outside Kuala Lumpur, where I was taught weapons use and maintenance by 22 cnd SAS at Sungei Besi. I also made the acquaintance of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templar, who used to sit and chat to me in a most informal manner while I prepared his prescribed medicament in the pharmacy. He was also instrumental in obtaining a posting for me to Tanah Ratah in the Cameron Highlands. This was a most exciting post where I went on armed patrols in the jungle and learned and developed methods of catching venomous snakes. The snakes were used for identification purposes so that the appropriate anti-venom could be administered in cases of snakebite. I was also trained in jungle trail following by Iban trackers, shown how to extract Guinea worms by a Tamil practitioner and how to develop X-ray films.

On my return to the UK and subsequent demobilisation I started work as a Co-op pharmacy manager, and went into a short time partnership before settling down as superintendent of a small private multiple group for several years. My next foray was into industry when I obtained a position as production manager with an international pharmaceutical company, learning techniques at Hounslow, Carfin, Eastleigh and Pontypool before becoming a depot manager. My final sideways leap was into NHS hospital employment in 1976 as a staff pharmacist and graduation into pharmacy manager before retiring one year early in 1994 owing to ill health.

If Mr Chapman can tell me of a profession that can bring such diversity of experience and adventure into life I would be surprised to hear of it.

Walter Coltart
Hamilton, Lanarksihire

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