The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7504 p673
31 May 2008

Society summary

Gift and tributes as President retires from Council

A gift was presented to the retiring President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Hemant Patel, at the close of a special Council meeting held on 21 May 2008 before the Society’s annual general meeting.

Making the presentation, the Vice-President, Martin Astbury, said that Mr Patel had been a Council member for 15 years and President for four years, a feat not reached by presidents since before the 1939–45 war.

He had led the profession boldly, showing vision in developing and leading on projects such as Pharmacy 2020, men’s health and reducing health inequalities. He also had a vision to make Britain the safest country in which to take medicines. He was passionate about pharmacy and cared about those working in pharmacy.

Bob Michell said that, as a non-pharmacist, he had greatly admired Mr Patel’s commitment to his profession, particularly his unobtrusive commitment to encourage young people to become pharmacists. He had led the Council in the most difficult of times and had sometimes been up against the most difficult of people, but he had kept his resolve and his vision and had shown true leadership and lasting influence. He should be proud of what he had accomplished and the Council wished him well with his continuing endeavours.

The Vice-President then made the presentation of the gift on behalf of the Council.