The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7190 p411-415
23 March 2002

Society summary

Member dies after reaching 100

One of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's oldest members, Reg Davis, has died just days after celebrating his 100th birthday. Mr Davis, of Polperro, Cornwall, reached his century on 28 February (PJ, 23 February, p237).

According to his son Richard, also of Polperro, he spent a wonderful day with family and friends, including his two other sons who flew from Australia for the occasion. He died in his sleep eight days later.

Mr Davies was one of two remaining life members of the Society. He paid 25 guineas (£26.25) for life membership in 1930, two years after first joining the Society.

The Society's sole surviving life member now is Isabella Keiller, of Perth, Scotland. Mrs Keiller was one of the last pharmacists to take up life membership, in December 1933.

The Society stopped offering life membership because of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1933, which required all pharmacists to be members and to pay an annual retention fee.