|
Abbott On 15 March, Cyril Frank Abbott, FRPharmS, aged 83, of St Bridgets
Lodge, 17 Lache Lane, Chester CH4 7LP. Mr Abbott registered in 1945.
Ford On 7 February 2005, Zella Mary Ford, MRPharmS, aged 87, of 91 Reedley Road,
Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 3TB. Mrs Ford registered in 1938.
|
Tribute
Stenlake In a tribute to the late John
Bedford Stenlake (PJ, 29 April,
p519), FRANK FISH writes:
It was with sadness that I learnt of the death
of my former long-time colleague. The sadness was, however, softened
by the news that his final days in hospital were few at the end of his
long, full and extremely productive life.
I was already on the staff at the Royal Technical College (subsequently
the Royal College of Science and Technology) in Glasgow when John arrived
in 1952 and,
for over 25 years, I had the opportunity to observe, in action, this man of boundless
energy and drive at what was to become his school of pharmacy. From the start,
it was obvious that this young, determined and newly appointed senior lecturer
in pharmaceutical chemistry would make his mark. Able and ambitious, he set and
pursued vigorously clear objectives in his own subject area.
Having successfully exerted his influence in teaching and greatly extended output
in research, he was promoted to become professor and head of department, giving
him overall control of its several subjects. This was timely for the visionary
John in the lead-up to transition from Royal College to University of Strathclyde
in which he was to become a leading light. With expansion in mind, he requested
two new professorships and had the good fortune to find excellent candidates
in Bill Bowman and Peter Elworthy. Together, the three laid the groundwork for
rapid growth and development of separate departments within what would eventually
become the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, of which John was the first dean.
Others will write of the goals to which he aspired and then achieved in enhancing
the reputations of both school and university.
The pinnacle of his research efforts was the well-reported discovery and development
of the short-acting muscle relaxant drug atracurium. Hugely successful, both
clinically and commercially, it brought great credit to his department, which,
in 1986, received the Queen’s award for Technical Achievement.
In numerous ways John has given so much to so many. Stenlake is a name known
by countless numbers of pharmacists who, as students, studied from texts that
he wrote or to which he contributed. He is also known universally for his vast
contribution as a research leader and through his numerous former research students
and associates, many of whom are now in positions of eminence across the world.
Like myself, many others will recall John’s vast knowledge and skill in
chairing important committees so calmly and so efficiently.
The work and worth of this distinguished scientist have been widely and rightly
recognised but I shall remember him for a simpler but still important reason:
I shall remember him as a family man and generous host. From earlier days I recall
happy times at the family home in Uddingston, near Glasgow, when my late wife
Mary and I would be invited to spend an evening with John and the ever-dependable
and ever-supportive Anne and their growing family. From much later and mellower
days, I recall (as will Jim and Betty Chilton) the pleasure of being invited
in 2004 to the Stenlakes’ home in south-west Scotland for a short autumn
break and then in July 2005, the privilege of sharing in a special at-home celebration
of their diamond wedding. John and Anne were both then on good form.
A full life has come to an end: John has gone but will not be forgotten. Our
thoughts are now very much with Anne and the family. JIM CHILTON (director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish
Department 1972–88) writes:
One of John Stenlake’s early achievements
was the development of the School of Pharmacy in the Royal Technical
College at Glasgow
in the 1950s, building on the foundations laid by Professor J. P. Todd.
He was able to attract additional staff and funding to upgrade the pharmaceutical
chemistry department and establish an effective research programme in that
subject. His many research students, including myself, published papers on
a wide variety
of topics and we are all grateful for his unfailing enthusiasm and encouragement
for our work. As the numbers of students increased he was successful in organising
and obtaining funds for the expanding teaching load, and in recruiting able
and hard working staff.
The retirement of Professor Todd and the foundation of the University of Strathclyde
led to greatly increased responsibilities and John took the initiative in leading
the entire school into a new era. Chemistry and pharmacology, which had previously
been shared with the University of Glasgow, became the sole preserve of the
new university and led to the appointments of Bill Bowman, Peter Elworthy and
others
who carried on the tradition of excellence in teaching and research. I am sure
that John Stenlake’s farsightedness was instrumental to these developments.
The momentum of his leadership lasted long after his retirement, and has led
to the present thriving and active school, which is his memorial.
My deepest sympathy goes to Anne and their family. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal