The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7504 p674
31 May 2008

Society summary

DEATHS

TRIBUTES

Shepherd On 11 May, Thomas Shepherd, aged 90, of 59 Pantain Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3LZ.

Mr Thomas registered in 1948 and retired from the Register in 2004 (see tribute).


Stead On 14 May, Keith Collier Stead, FRPharmS, aged 85, of 36 Raleigh Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 5TW.

Mr Stead registered in 1945.

Tributes

Shepherd In a tribute to the late Thomas Shepherd, CHRISTINE HODGES, MRPharmS, writes:

I first met Tom Shepherd in the summer of 1973 after I had graduated from Manchester and Boots had placed me in Loughborough for my preregistration year. Tom was my tutor pharmacist and he and his wife Rita took me under their wing. We would call Tom these days very much “old school” and I still find myself thinking of a number of his pearls of wisdom during each working day.

He was a wonderful tutor and instilled in me the confidence to go forward in the profession and within the company.

He originated from Teesside and I think we shared a north-eastern view on life and a similar sense of humour. He had many interesting stories about this area from his boyhood between the wars.

Tom retired from the Loughborough store of Boots but was then persuaded back into “service” for a short time to do some specific project work. After I had moved on in 1974 we kept in touch and did work together on other occasions. He and Rita were always there to provide a drink, a meal and wise words over these years and also broad shoulders for me to lean on when needed.

Tom had “enthusiasms” and those who knew him were often drawn into conversations about his family, of whom he was immensely proud, amateur radio, gliding, holidays in Scotland and his experiences during the war when he was with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Malta.

He was bereft when Rita died and tried his best to carry on, including attending dance classes to help with his mobility. I think the charming female teacher helped with this “enthusiasm”. We used to meet regularly for lunch and talk about the old times at the Loughborough store and within the company.

Latterly Tom’s health deteriorated and he spent his last years being looked after in a care home. He died peacefully there and I hope he is now reunited with Rita. My thoughts are with their daughter Carol and the rest of her family.