The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7315 p331
4 September 2004

Society summary

Honorary fellowship for Lord Newton reflects contribution to Society

Lord Newton was the Society’s parliamentary adviser from 1997 to 2002. Recently, he was a member of the Council’s Corporate Governance Steering Group and of its Modernisation Steering Group. He is vice-chairman of the All Party Pharmacy Group in Parliament. He is also chairman of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust.

Lord Newton’s Parliamentary career began when he was elected as Conservative MP for Braintree in 1974. He went on to serve in a number of ministerial posts including that of Minister for Health from 1984 to 1988. He was Leader of the House of Commons from 1992 until 1997, when he lost his seat. He was raised to the peerage in the same year.

The Society’s President, Nicholas Wood, said: “Lord Newton has made an outstanding contribution to health and public life at the highest level. He has been a great friend to the Society and the profession, offering invaluable advice, particularly when we were establishing our own public affairs programme. We are delighted that he is to join the very exclusive roll of Honorary Fellows of the Society and we are looking forward to presenting this to him in person.”

Under the Society’s 1953 Charter, scientists who have distinguished themselves in any branch of knowledge embraced in the Society’s educational objects may be elected as honorary fellows by the Council, as may persons eminent in national life. The honour is rarely given and after 50 years the total awarded has still not reached 20.

Lord Newton was elected an honorary fellow at the Council’s June meeting. He will be presented with his certificate of honorary fellowship at a forthcoming Council meeting.