The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7250 p734-735
24 May 2003

Bryan Veitch

Professor George Bryan Austin Veitch, FRPharmS, died on 15 May. He was a former chief pharmaceutical adviser to the Welsh Office, a former governor, vice-chairman and chairman of the College of Pharmacy Practice and a Royal Pharmaceutical Society Charter silver medallist.

Professor Veitch, of the Welsh School of Pharmacy, UWCC, PO Box 13, Cardiff, CF10 3XF, registered in 1960 after graduating from Sunderland School of Pharmacy.

Shortly after registration he was appointed assistant lecturer at the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology (now the University of Aston). He remained at Aston for the next 23 years, gaining an external BSc in chemistry and biology from London University in 1964 and a PhD from Aston in 1971.

In 1983 he was appointed regional pharmaceutical officer at Oxford Regional Health Authority, where he established the regional drug information department, set up a clinical pharmacy training programme in association with the University of Wales and formed academic links with the universities of Oxford and Aston.

He was appointed chief pharmaceutical adviser to the Welsh Office in 1987 and became chairman of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee and the Welsh Chief Administrative Pharmaceutical Officers Committee. In 1990, he was invited to become an honorary visiting professor within the School of Pharmacy, University of Wales. He retired from the Welsh Office in 1995 and was appointed part-time professor and senior research associate at the University of Wales, and pharmaceutical adviser to the Parkinson Disease Society.

Professor Veitch was a founder member of the College of Pharmacy Practice and was a governor from 1989 to 1994 and 1995 to 2001, vice-chairman in 1997 and chairman in 1999.

He was designated a fellow of the Society in 1988 and was the Society's Charter silver medallist in 1999 in recognition of his outstanding service to the profession in Wales.

He served on the Society's Welsh Executive for six years from 1995 to 2001 and was vice-chairman from 1998 to 1999.

Frieze On 5 April, Maurice Frieze, of "Lakeside", Flat 1, Old Hall Road, Salford, Lancashire. Mr Frieze registered in 1941 and and retired from the register in 1998.

Jenkins On 8 April, Ruth Adelaide Jenkins, of 50 Barley Green, Milcote Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 1JW. Miss Jenkins registered in 1933 and retired from the register in 1996.

Tribute

Aslam In a tribute to the late Mohamed Aslam (PJ, 17 May, p704), Dr Chik Kaw Tan, a special lecturer at the University of Nottingham, writes:

I was, naturally, deeply saddened to hear that Mo (as he is affectionately known by his colleagues) had finally succumbed to his illness. I first got to know him in 1997 when I was a Christian volunteer worker seconded to the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Surabaya (UBAYA) in Indonesia as a lecturer and consultant in pharmacy. When I was asked by the then dean to help develop clinical pharmacy, still in its infancy in the country, I sought help from readers of The Pharmaceutical Journal. Dr Aslam responded immediately and the development of clinical pharmacy in Indonesia became his great passion and challenge in succeeding years.

His grand vision was for a national drug information centre, national clinical pharmacy training courses in Indonesia conducted by visiting specialist British clinical pharmacists, Indonesian pharmacists coming over to Britain for study visits and a book on clinical pharmacy in the Indonesian language (and affordable locally). All the above have been achieved, with the help of the British Council and the University of Surabaya.

The Centre for Medicines Information and Pharmaceutical Care (CMIPC), a centre of excellence, and also a training, resource and research institute is now staffed by six fully trained Indonesian clinical and drug information pharmacists. CMIPC is a permanent reminder of the sacrifice this man has made for a developing country. Mo's determination to set up an indigenous MSc in clinical pharmacy is about to bear fruit in September this year. Sadly, he cannot now take up his role as visiting professor and examiner.

He acted as consultant and adviser to many health organisations and governments around the world. But in the case of Indonesia he expected nothing financially from a country going through severe economic, political and social crises. But he gladly gave of his time, energy and expertise because "I get a real kick out of this work and I like the people at UBAYA." The rector of the University of Surabaya, on behalf of the senate, awarded him a gold medallion and a citation for "distinguished services to the university" at a public ceremony in 2001. As visiting professor to the University, Mo was always referred to as Professor Aslam in Indonesia. The high regard and affection in which the Indonesians hold for him gave him great pride, satisfaction and joy.

Mo was truly one of those who, as in the immortal poem "If", could "... walk with Kings — nor lose the common touch". He moved easily, and with great charm and dignity, among senior government bureaucrats and academic professors although he never flinched from saying what had to be said. But he most loved to be among students, preregistration trainees and junior pharmacists. Indonesians love Karaoke and in one of the most incredible scenes I have ever witnessed Mo gave a public solo singing performance among students, singing an Indonesian song he did not know in the Indonesian language he had never spoken. And he did so well that he received sustained applause after that. He felt relaxed and accepted by Indonesians to the point that he once sang a duet with an Indonesian professor on stage, backed by a live band in a large restaurant in Surabaya.

British pharmacy has lost an outstanding academic and practitioner but Indonesian pharmacy, in particular clinical pharmacy, has lost a mentor, champion, guide and friend. This time last year he went through a bad bout of cancer. Yet his concern was that the work we began should be seen to its conclusion and that everything we do must always have their interests in mind. I was deeply touched when he then told me he considered me his brother and he trusted me to defend the interests of the Indonesians as he would have. I spoke to him a few days before his death and even then his thoughts were on his colleagues in Indonesia.

I have lost a friend and mentor. I mourn his death and there will always be that hole in my heart; and yet, that hole is packed with the fondest memories of a man so incredible that you could not have imagined him into existence. My prayers and sympathy to his wife and children. While I have written this with Dr Aslam in mind, there is no doubt that he could not have achieved a fraction of what he has attained without the unfailing devotion, support, encouragement and love of his wife.

COLIN MELIA writes:

It was sad to hear of the death of Dr Mohamed Aslam, greatly admired and respected. Mo was an ebullient and engaging colleague who was an inspiration to generations of pharmacists and students through his unrelenting passion and inexorable enthusiasm for his subject areas.

His pioneering work exploring the interface between western and Asian medicine awoke many to the existence, dangers and benefits of parallel treatment in ethnic communities. He will also be remembered as a generous man, who frequently used his persuasive powers and extensive professional contacts to help others. There are many students and pharmacy practitioners throughout the world who perhaps owe their careers to Mo's unselfish intervention, encouragement and help at critical times. Everyone who knew him considered him a friend. He is a personal loss to many and a man who made a unique contribution to the profession.

Veitch In a tribute to the late George Bryan Austin Veitch (see p734), Angela Alexander and Ian Simpson, chairman and chief executive, respectively, of the College of Pharmacy Practice, write:

Bryan Veitch's many friends and colleagues in the pharmaceutical profession were sorry to learn of his tragic illness and will regret his untimely death. He was an inspirational teacher and leader within the profession, and we are among the many pharmacists who have cause to be thankful for his friendship and his influence on our lives.

His academic career began during his preregistration year, when he taught pharmaceutics at Sunderland. He then moved to the University of Aston where he remained for the next 23 years, building up an excellent reputation as a teacher and researcher. He had a keen interest in postgraduate education and research and became course tutor and director of the MSc programme, as well as supervising a number of MSc and PhD students, including one of us (AMA). He also developed strong links with the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service, and with a number of overseas academic and health service organisations.

The next phase of Bryan's career came with his appointment as regional pharmaceutical officer at Oxford Regional Health Authority where his visionary leadership and his open and friendly approach earned him great respect and affection throughout the region.

Bryan's next move was to the post of chief pharmaceutical adviser to the Welsh Office, where he was able to draw on his previous academic and NHS experience to develop pharmaceutical policy, and in particular to advance clinical pharmacy and academic links.

Bryan developed an active commitment to the College of Pharmacy Practice where again his visionary leadership came to the fore, and he was the inspiration behind the development of faculties within the college, the quest for a coat of arms, and the search for new offices for the college. Bryan was also the main instigator of the fellowship programme of the college, was the first chairman of the fellowship committee, and the second member to be designated a Fellow.

No account of Bryan's life would be complete without mention of two of his main hobbies, music and steam trains. He had a fine singing voice, which he used to good effect in various choral groups, including the choir of Lichfield Cathedral. He had visited steam railways and museums all over the world, sometimes dragging less interested colleagues along as well, but it was worth it to see his enthusiasm and the look of joy on his face. He was delighted that a book which he wrote on the subject was accepted for publication last year.

Bryan's death is a sad loss for the pharmaceutical profession. Many of us will miss his inspired leadership, his wise counsel and his sincere friendship. On behalf of his friends and colleagues in the College of Pharmacy Practice, we extend our sympathy to his wife Annette, also a pharmacist, and to his son and daughter.

Professor PAUL SPENCER, former head of the Welsh School of Pharmary, writes:

Pharmacists everywhere will be saddened to hear of the premature death of Professor Bryan Veitch. I am joined by my wife Avril, my former colleagues in the Welsh School of Pharmacy and countless pharmacists throughout Wales in sending our very deepest condolences to Bryan's wife Annette, and children Catriona (and little George) and Angus. This man made such an enormous and sustained contribution to his chosen profession.

Bryan and I first became colleagues in 1965 when we joined the staff of the new University of Aston and, with other additions to the staff, we all set about the revitalisation of the school of pharmacy. Brian was an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, his research progressed well and he enjoyed marvellous relations with colleagues and students alike. He later moved into hospital pharmacy, eventually becoming regional pharmacist in Oxford, and then latterly chief pharmacist in the Welsh Office. It was in the latter post that he wielded most influence and had real opportunity to take the profession forward, integrating our science, our clinical and service opportunities. In recent years, he was honorary visiting professor of clinical pharmacy in the Welsh School, where he continued to support its professional activities and bring research monies in to support his work.

Under his influence, resources for the Welsh Centre for Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Education (WCPPE) were dramatically increased, and David Temple was recruited as the first full-time director of continuing education. For the school of pharmacy, Brian was able to find monies for additional preregistration and junior hospital posts, thus ensuring the development of Cardiff's postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy and simultaneously underpinning the massive development of clinical pharmacy services in Wales.

Within the Welsh Office, he was widely respected and consulted on many matters that lay outside pharmacy, but our profession was also a beneficiary by such exposure, right up to parliamentary levels. Brian advised and participated informally in many of the clinical developments that took place in the school of pharmacy. We enjoyed this close and continuing professional relationship.

Others will write about his contributions to the Welsh Executive, and the College of Pharmacy Practice. I want to emphasise the qualities of this friend we have all lost. In knowing him for nearly 40 years, I cannot remember a time when he lost his temper, nor a time when he spoke in a derogatory manner about any other person. He was an inspirational manager of people, urging and directing his staff forward through friendship and by personal example. I shall miss him very much, but feel so privileged to have known him and worked with him.