The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7168 p491 6 October 2001

The Society

Obituaries & tributes

D’Arcy On 26 September, Patrick Francis D’Arcy, OBE, FRPharmS, of 4 Lenamore Park, Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland BT28 3NJ, aged 73 years. Professor D’Arcy registered in 1957. Patrick D’Arcy graduated from the University of London in 1952 and gained his PhD in 1956. In 1958 he became head of pharmacology at Allen & Hanburys. He returned to academia in 1962 as dean of the faculty of pharmacy and professor of pharmacology at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, where he initiated pharmacy education. In 1967 he became technical director at Riker Laboratories and special lecturer at the pharmacy department, Nottingham University. His next move was to Northern Ireland as professor and head of the pharmacy department at the Queen’s University of Belfast where he remained for 16 years. His monthly column on adverse drug reactions in Drug Intelligence and Clinical Pharmacy was widely read and quoted. He edited Pharmacy International and later the International Pharmacy Journal. He was also a past editor of the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. His book on iatrogenic diseases and his manual of drug interactions have been described as classics in their areas. He took a special interest in third world health care and was director of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s third world department. Professor D’Arcy was Conference Science Chairman for the British Pharmaceutical Conference in 1980. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours in 1981. In 1984 he received the Harrison memorial medal, awarded for outstanding achievement by a pharmacist in the science and practice of pharmacy. He was made a fellow of the School of Pharmacy in 1993 for his contribution to pharmacy, both nationally and internationally. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science by the University of Khartoum. Funeral: Friday 5 October, 2.30pm, Enfield Crematorium, Great Cambridge Road, Enfield, Middlesex. Family flowers only. Memorial donations to Christian Aid or British Diabetic Society. Dowell On 14 September, Shaun Dowell, MRPharmS, of 16 Highfield Drive, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE34 6JE. Mr Dowell registered in 1986. Dinsdale On 5 September, Walter Dinsdale, MRPharmS, of 29 Byards Park, Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire HG5 9BB. Mr Dinsdale registered in 1935. Lowe On 18 August, Ian William Shepherd Lowe, FRPharmS, of “Hilltop”, 5 Orchard Road, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire HP8 4HT. Mr Lowe registered in 1942. (Tribute) Lyall On 15 September, John Lyall, MRPharmS, of 27 Polton Road, Lasswade, Midlothian EH18 1AF. Mr Lyall registered in 1956. O’Neill On 2 June, Stephen John O’Neill MRPharmS, 76 Kensington Park Road, Brislington, Bristol, Avon BS4 3HU. Mr O’Neill registered in 1976. (Tribute). Sharp On 22 September, Milfred Harpin Sharp, FRPharmS, of 10 George Street, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 8JX. Mr Sharp registered in 1949. Southcott On 22 August, Henry Percival Southcott, MRPharmS, of 10 Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5HC. Mr Southcott registered in 1931. Tickler On 8 September, Elizabeth Jane Tickler, MRPharmS, of Woodlands Cottage, Pixey Green, Stradbroke, Diss, Norfolk IP21 5NH. Mrs Tickler registered in 1974.

Tribute Lowe In a tribute to the late Ian William Shepherd Lowe (see above), IAN HARRISON writes: Ian Lowe might have been small in stature but he was as large as life. His style of management engendered loyalty and many staff who left often returned for another stint at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. At the time I became his deputy in 1969 he managed a hospital group also comprising St Mary’s Harrow Road, St Charles’, Paddington Green Children’s plus the Western Ophthalmic Hospital on the Marylebone Road. A dynamo of a man, few knew he had had a partial gastrectomy operation in the 1960s. He could, however, unwind with a cigarette, a glass of whisky and a funny story. He was an ardent family man and a keen caravaner. He bravely stuck out for a pharmacy situated away from the hospital basement, a prize that eluded his successors as chief pharmacist at St Mary’s. At the time I started, the pharmacy was opposite the sexual diseases clinic. His innovations were many, not least the rapid roll-out of ward pharmacy across the whole hospital in early 1970, a study of intravenous additives written up for the Journal of Hospital Pharmacy in 1974 and latched onto in an anaesthetics textbook and the Breckenridge report. The pharmacy had laminar flow cabinets before many others and the stock control system was excellent. Ian was held in great regard by medical colleagues and often dined in the doctors’ mess. Revelling in resolving crises, Ian would mobilise staff when disaster struck. A bomb scare on Praed Street, an exploding tray of cooling sterile fluids, a conscientious objector to the handling of benzene. All were grist to the mill. He’d be heard muttering: “Machtee me — we’re in a worse state than China”. I and his many permanent staff and overseas locums will remember him with affection. O’Neill In a tribute to the late Stephen John O’Neill (see above), MARK BIRMINGHAM writes: It is with sadness and regret that I wish to inform members of the Society of the death of a close and dear friend, Steve O’Neill, whose name was inadvertently included in the recent list of persons struck off the register for non-payment of fees. He died battling cancer on 2 June. Steve remained a true and loyal friend, from the days when we first met at Portsmouth school of pharmacy in 1973. He will be sadly missed. The memories of a kind and humorous man who loved his children and friends will not fade with time.

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