The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 268 No 7184 p190 9 February 2002

The Society

Obituaries & tributes

Duncan On 26 December 2001, William Allardyce Duncan, MRPharmS, of 38 Robertson Crescent, Newburgh, Fife KY14 6AW. Mr Duncan registered in 1950. East On 9 December 2001, Valerie Kirkby Lunn East, née Pearson, of 6 Stanton Close, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7RT. Mrs East registered in 1950 and retired from the register in 1996. Evans In a tribute to the late Dengar Robinson Evans (PJ, 19 January, p77), ANDREA ROBINSON (chairman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Welsh Executive) writes: I write to acknowledge the tremendous contribution Dengar made to pharmacy in Wales. He served on many professional committees including the Welsh Executive and the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee where his influence laid the foundations we are building on today. His most notable contribution was in the sphere of postgraduate pharmaceutical education. He was a great orator and his opinions were always challenging and thought provoking. No conversation with Dengar was complete without an eloquent and pertinent quotation from Shakespeare. Dengar was a man of vision and pharmacists today have much to thank him for. R. J. AGGARWAL writes: I became attached to Dengar Evans about 15 years ago when he had sold his pharmacy to take early retirement but remained active in Welsh pharmaceutical politics. Dengar lived only a short walk from my company's pharmacy in Cardiff and made it a point to visit us at least once a day. He was always welcomed with open arms by the staff, as he was always full of enthusiasm, great charm, compassion and kindness. He was a talented pharmacist, and I can remember him creating original professional window displays for us. He would spend considerable time in his shed at home making artefacts to fit into the window, and it was always pleasing to see the smile and satisfaction on his face once the displays had been completed. He could often be found standing near his displays entertaining the customers with his exciting stories about the pharmacy profession. He was one of that special breed of pharmacists who loved community pharmacy immensely, and on each of his visits to our pharmacy he always extended his experience, expertise and knowledge of odd nostrums to all the staff with great humour. His poetic influence is never to be forgotten. On social occasions he was excellent company. He always made us laugh, he was an excellent speaker, he loved life to the full and, of course, he enjoyed champagne. I, my pharmacists, dispensers and staff, will greatly miss him. So too, of course, will his wife Margaret, his daughter Judith and her husband Gerry and family. Parry On 9 January, Vernon Francis Parry, MRPharmS, of Pharmacy, Tenby Road, Crymych, Dyfed SA41 3QG. Mr Parry registered in 1956. MONICA ROSE (secretary of Dyfed Powys Local Pharmaceutical Committee) and JOHN B. HOUGH (past chairman and secretary of the former Dyfed LPC) write: We were saddened to learn that Vernon Francis Parry had died on 9 January, aged 69 years. Vernon was the proprietor of the pharmacy in Crymych, Pembrokeshire. The pharmacy is now owned by his son Phillip. He was an active member of the former Pembrokeshire Local Pharmaceutical Committee and he served as chairman of the Penfro Branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. He also served as a member of the Rhanbarth De Cymru which was the predecessor of the Society's Welsh Executive. Following local government reorganisation in 1974, the former counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire were merged to form the large geographical area of Dyfed. Co-terminous reorganisation of the health service followed in the same year and the Dyfed Local Pharmaceutical Committee was constituted from representatives of the local pharmaceutical committees of the three former counties. Vernon became a member of the committee in its early days and served as chairman for a year. He served on the Dyfed family practitioner committee and its subcommittees for several years. Vernon was one of the first to advocate that pharmacists should counsel patients on the medicines they bought and those that had been prescribed for them, in order to ensure that they received the maximum benefit from the treatment. When attending or chairing meetings Vernon will be remembered for his competence as a speaker, his ability to grasp the nub of the problem and argue his point of view and above all for his good humour and ready wit which endeared him to his colleagues. Meetings which Vernon attended were never dull! Unfortunately due to failing health he was unable to continue his committee work and although sorely missed he will be remembered with great affection by his colleagues in the pharmaceutical and medical professions. The family was a very important part of Vernon's life and we extend our sympathies to his widow Edwyna, his sons Phillip, Justin and Mathew, his daughter Sarah and his grandchildren. Wale On 11 January, Frederick Wale, MRPharmS, of 38 Oakham Road, Harborne, Birmingham, West Midlands B17 9DG. Mr Wale registered in 1942. Dr GARETH SPURGIN (chairman, Birmingham local pharmaceutical committee) writes: It was with great sadness that I learnt of the sudden death of Fred. I first met him about 15 years ago and soon learnt that despite his nominal retirement he was still actively committed to his profession. This continued commitment covered many areas including his chairmanship of Associated Chemists (Birmingham) Ltd and as a trustee of the Jack Rushton Memorial fund. During his long career in pharmacy he served the pharmacists of Birmingham well and was an active member of the local branch. He also served on the LPC from 1957 until he sold his business in 1983. He was a founder member of Associated Chemists (Birmingham) Ltd and as a board member and later as chairman he saw the company flourish. He still took an active interest in all aspects of the business even after his retirement from the board in 1998. As a trustee of the Jack Rushton Memorial fund he demonstrated his commitment to the future of pharmacy education by overseeing the sponsorship of pharmacists who wished to undertake a Clinical Diploma at Aston University. Fred was a gentleman who was respected both as a pharmacist and as a person, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. The sympathy of all pharmacists in Birmingham goes to his wife Celia, their son David and their grandchildren.

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