The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7209 p177
3 August 2002

Ashford On 8 July, Jeffrey Ashford, MRPharmS, of 11 Windmill Close, Staining, Blackpool FY3 0EB. Mr Ashford registered in 1976 (see Tribute).

Ruddock On 17 June, John William Ruddock, MRPharmS, of 13 Rawcliffe Lane, York YO3 6NP. Mr Ruddock registered in 1935 (see Tribute).

Tribute

Ashford In a tribute to the late Jeffrey Ashford, BILL BROOKES writes:

The sudden death of Jeffrey Ashford has come as a great shock to all who knew him. It is hard to believe that this big jovial man, so full of life and what it had to offer, is no longer with us.

Others will tell of his achievements in pharmacy. My memories are of a friend and colleague in the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists who brought fun into the lives of those he was with. Who of those attending Guild group delegate meetings when Jeff was a delegate will forget his mythical Auntie Maud? She was a cleaner in the Department of Health who fed wonderful snippets of waste paper basket information to Jeff. These he regaled, suitably embellished, to fellow delegates to make a telling point in debate. To listen to him, the words spilling out as they tried to keep pace with his thoughts, was a delight. Jeff was also a hard working district member of the guild for the north-west who kept his constituents well informed on council matters.

Many of us are glad that the guild's weekend school this April was held in Manchester. It gave an opportunity to see Jeff, possibly for the last time. For this we must be thankful.

ROBERT McARTNEY (President, Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists) writes:

Many pharmacists across the United Kingdom will be saddened by the sudden death of Jeff Ashford. Jeff truly was a man of many talents. He was a committed hospital pharmacist. His personal strengths were his undoubted intellect, wonderful sense of humour, his breadth of knowledge outside pharmacy and his unbridled enthusiasm.

He could always be relied on to be objective and constructive when reviewing ideas and plans and was an excellent strategist in his own right. As a manager he was principled, supportive, approachable and decisive, while retaining great integrity and compassion.

Jeff was a guild council member from 1988 to 1996 when, due to pressure of work, he felt he could no longer give the time commitment required. This was typical of his honesty, integrity and commitment to the profession of pharmacy. During his time on the council he contributed fully to the challenges facing hospital pharmacy and was challenging of convention, forcing people to think "outside the box".

He was also a great contributor to the group delegates meetings. Many will remember his fictitious Aunt Maud who "worked" at the Department of Health and rummaged through the waste paper bins for secret Government plans, which were always extremely relevant to the debate of the day!

The last time I spoke with him was at the guild's national conference in Manchester. He was recounting some of his experience as a Commission for Health Improvement reviewer in his usual charming and devastatingly witty style.

On behalf of the guild, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his family. Hospital pharmacy is the poorer for his passing, but certainly the richer for his all too short presence. The guild council was represented by Ron Pate at Jeff's funeral.

The last words go to a friend and colleague who simply said: "He was a great bloke, respected by all who met him and who will be sadly missed."

Ruddock In a tribute to the late Jack William Ruddock, TREVOR HUTCHINSON and JOHN SAVAGE write:

Jack Ruddock was born on 30 August 1912 in Knavesmire Road, York. He missed his 90th birthday by some nine weeks. He was the eldest son of a York tailor. The family moved to Upper Poppleton and Jack attended Nunthorpe School.

At a time of severe unemployment he was offered, and accepted, an apprenticeship at Colbert's chemist in Fishergate. He completed his studies at Leeds University and qualified in 1935. His father had died suddenly leaving the family in straitened circumstances and Jack was only able to qualify with the aid of a legacy from an aunt in Australia. In 1940 he married Ann, who pre-deceased him in 1995. He opened a pharmacy in Clifton and became an Air Raid Precautions warden during the war, as he was in a reserved occupation. By the 1960s the business was prospering. He became an enthusiastic freemason and golfer. He was a staunch member of the congregation at St Michael le Belfrey, in the shadow of the Minster. When he retired in the late 1970s one of his customers wrote that the community he served had "the utmost confidence in him as an efficient and scrupulous pharmacist".

He was a founder member of the York Chemists Association that later became the York branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and which he served in several capacities for many years.

He was a member of the York Health Committee, becoming vice-chairman. When the National Health Service arrived he continued as vice-chairman of the local pharmaceutical committee and member of the executive council. He was a member of York Civic Trust and chairman of the John Burrill Almshouses in Clifton for over 30 years.

We have witnessed the passing of a gentleman, a role model for many pharmacists of our generation, whose cheerful chuckle and twinkling eye will be missed by many.

We offer our deepest sympathy to his son John and daughter Susan and their families.

Williams In a tribute to the late John Reginald Williams (PJ, 20 July, p117), VALERIE BAYNES writes:

It was in 1971 that I first started to work for John Williams. I was in awe of his masterful handling of both dispensary and counter trade. He dealt with all looming problems with speed and alacrity. After a few words from him, all problems were solved and disappeared, never to be seen again.

In 1976, I became manager of one of his shops, which he frequently visited and telephoned daily. He continued to do this even after he sold the shop in which he had worked and became a retired pharmacist.

He was completely devoted to his wife Mary, who had steadily failing health and died in 1994. A few weeks later, John suffered a severe stroke himself. He endured this remarkably well and continued to demonstrate his organising ability on his carers, all of whom held him in high esteem and great affection.

I became a friend, other than an employee, and visited him regularly during my retirement until his death in June, aged 92.

John was a contented, but disabled, gentleman and his passing has left a prevailing feeling of sadness that a happy man has left us.

Sympathy is extended to his son Paul, daughter Diana, his five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.