The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7499 p522-523
26 April 2008

Society summary

DEATHS

TRIBUTES

Fletcher On 17 April, Peter Fletcher, FRPharmS, aged 73, of 20 Andsell Grove, Ashton, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2EX. Mr Fletcher registered in 1958.

He was a chairman of the Society’s Preston branch and of the North Western Regional Health Authority pharmaceutical officers committee. Mr Fletcher established one of the first continuing education programmes for hospital pharmacists.


Puxon On 1 April, Margaret Puxon, Hon MRPharmS, of 19 Clarence Gate Gardens, Glentworth Street, London NW1 6AY.

Mrs Puxon was the first woman to serve as a Privy Council nominee on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council. She qualified as a doctor in 1941 and specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology but was practising as a barrister in East Anglia when she joined the Council in 1975.

She was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1976 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1982.

She retired from the Society’s Council in 1990, after completing three five-year terms of office.

Tributes

Hazlehurst In a tribute to the late Ernest Hazlehurst (PJ, 5 April 2008, p419), PETER MARSHALL writes:

Ernest was born in Windermere. Although he lost his father (the local golf professional) at a young age his mother was determined that the change in the family’s financial circumstances would not stop her son achieving his ambition to be a pharmacist and she worked hard to support him. Ernest achieved his goal. He studied at Bradford College, and qualified in 1941.

He founded his own company, E & M Hazlehurst Ltd, in Bradford along with his wife, Min, who was also a pharmacist. Not satisfied with developing a thriving business in the Heaton area of Bradford, Ernest was heavily involved in local pharmacy politics, being a member of the local pharmaceutical committee from 1948–84.

He was invited onto the board of Bradford Chemist’s Alliance (BCA) in the 1950s, serving as company secretary for 25 years (1962–87). BCA became one of the most successful pharmacy wholesaler co-operatives in the country.

Ernest or “Dad” will be remembered with great warmth and affection by many pharmacists who undertook their preregistration training at Hazlehurst’s. I, for one, owe him a debt of gratitude as he helped me on my way to becoming a community pharmacist as well as providing me with inspiration to get involved with the profession.

He was a pharmacist who enjoyed his craft and always made a point of talking to patients and customers. He also gave his time willingly to aspiring proprietors and many benefited from his sharing his business acumen. He retired to his beloved Lake District at the end of the 1980s and when I last saw him earlier this year we had a lively conversation about the future of pharmacy.

Ernest will be fondly remembered by many.