Obituaries

Written by Dr Sebastian Kraemer.

Dr Mary Lindsay MB FRCP FRCPsych FRCPCH(Hon)

Mary Lindsay qualified in medicine in 1951 and, as Dermod MacCarthy’s paediatric registrar, appeared in James Robertson’s influential film ‘Going to hospital with mother’. Later, as a consultant child psychiatrist, she worked again with Dr MacCarthy and his patients, pioneering the model of liaison work described in ‘I sit in the Diabetic Clinic’.

In 1976, Dr Lindsay was elected to the British Paediatric Association, and in 1993 elected FRCP, a rare honour. In 1974, she and Dr MacCarthy started the celebrated child psychiatry/ paediatric meetings at the postgraduate centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which took place three times a year and continued for 18 years. In 2022, Mary’s devoted tribute to her mentor, the first British paediatrician to admit parents to a paediatric ward, was published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood (PDF).

Mary Lindsay was a distinguished presence at the interface of paediatrics and psychiatry for six decades, with many lectures and publications to her name, from 1955 to the 2023. In an early paper following up children with coeliac disease, she noted how chronic disease slows the child’s development. From her medical beginnings as a junior paediatrician, she championed the right of children in hospital to have their parents visit and stay the night with them. Her final paper was a huge and brilliant study, including some personal reflections, of the changing history of parents’ access to their hospitalised children over three centuries. Sick Children and their Parents (PDF) is published online by the British Society for the History of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Obituary provided by Mr Robert Bownes, his son.

Dr Ian Thomas Bownes MD MRCPsych (6 January 1956 - 7 January 2025)

Dr Ian Bownes was an award winning pioneer of psychiatry in Northern Ireland during and after the Troubles. In 1991 he became only the second qualified consultant forensic psychiatrist in Northern Ireland and one of the first from the region to be added to the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Roll of Honour after receiving both the Peter Scott Memorial Fellowship and the John Dunne Medal for excellence and originality in psychiatric research.

Dr Bownes began his medical career after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast in 1978. Following a spell working in A&E as a junior doctor during the most violent period of the Troubles, Dr Bownes chose to embark on a career in psychiatry. One of his first assignments as a trainee psychiatrist was to assess whether paramilitary inmates housed at the notorious H-blocks of the Maze prison were mentally fit to go on hunger strike. This was both a testament to Dr Bownes’ bravery and a startling example of how underserved psychiatric services were in Northern Ireland at the time.

Spurred by this experience, Dr Bownes chose to dedicate his career to developing psychiatric services and treatments for prisoners. To that end, he took every opportunity to develop his expertise, including collaborating with Professor Gísli Guðjónsson, a professor of forensic psychology at King's College University of London, on three research articles on the attribution of blame for criminal offences and reasons why suspects confess during custodial interrogation.

By the early 2000s, Dr Bownes had become the senior psychiatrist at a number of major prisons, where he continued to campaign for change while building a thriving medical legal practice. His work included providing testimony to the Stormont Assembly and Parliamentary Select Committees on the inadequacy of Northern Ireland’s psychiatric resources, chairing the Forensic Faculty of the Northern Ireland Division of the Royal College of Psychiatry from 2010 to 2014 as it helped to shape mental health and capacity legislation, and worked to develop Northern Ireland’s Personality Disorder Strategy (2010).

As one of the UK’s most experienced forensic psychiatrists, Dr Bownes provided expert testimony on hundreds of criminal cases, including some of the country’s most serious and high profile offenders. His expertise was also sought by the UK security services on issues such as IRA informant Stakeknife.

Despite the often harrowing nature of his work, Dr Bownes stayed true to his ideals that everyone deserves the best possible psychiatric treatment and that with the right support and early intervention, offending could be prevented. He retired in 2023 after more than 40 years of service.

Outside his medical work, Dr Bownes was a prolific collector of antiques and curios, a skilled DIY practitioner and a dedicated family man. With his wife Sharon, who he met at university, he raised six children – Gareth, Philip, David, Felicity, Amy and Robert – several dogs, an inordinate number of rabbits and a handful of guinea pigs. His family will remember him for his eccentric sense of humour, imagination, impressive mustache and tireless work ethic.

Obituary provided by Emad Salib, colleague and friend.

Dr Bertram Keir Brooker, Former Consultant Psychiatrist at Halton Hospital, North Cheshire

Dr Bertram Keir Brooker (“Bert”) passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024, at the age of 92, surrounded by the love of his family. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 61 years, Berra, just three months earlier, Bert’s final chapter was marked by quiet courage as he faced dementia in his later years, buoyed always by the legacy of a remarkable life well lived.

Born and raised in Wallasey in 1932, Bert’s early years were shaped by the upheaval of World War II, including being evacuated to Wales during the Blitz. These formative experiences instilled in him a lifelong resilience and an innate ability to adapt to life’s challenges – a theme that would echo throughout his storied career and personal life.

A dedicated student with an early passion for medicine, Bert graduated from Liverpool University in 1955, earning his MB., ChB., and later achieving his DPM and MRCPsych. His career was as varied as it was distinguished. From house jobs at Clatterbridge to life-changing service in the Royal Air Force, Bert’s journey spanned continents and disciplines. His time in the Hebrides, St. Kilda, and Antarctica – where he served with ingenuity and compassion – earned him the Polar Medal, a testament to his adventurous spirit and skill under extreme conditions.

After leaving the RAF and holding various hospital and GP posts in the Wirral and Liverpool in the early 1960s, Bert chose psychiatry as his lifelong career. In 1964, he accepted a registrar post at the Royal Liverpool Infirmary, which evolved into a lecturer role and eventually a research fellowship at Liverpool University.

In 1962, Bert married Berra, the love of his life. Together, they built a home filled with warmth, laughter, and a shared commitment to family and community. They raised four children, who followed diverse and successful paths, and were blessed with nine cherished grandchildren.

Bert’s professional life blossomed when he became a consultant psychiatrist in Warrington to serve Halton district in 1973. Over 27 years, he poured his energy into building highly regarded psychiatric services in Halton from the ground up, ensuring that those in need received compassionate, patient-centred care. His commitment to his patients and colleagues was reflected in the many leadership roles he assumed and the naming of a new psychiatric unit 'The Brooker Centre' in his honour – a rare and well-deserved accolade.

Despite his demanding career, Bert made time for his many passions: mountaineering, cricket, bridge, skiing, golf, and his enduring love of theatre, opera, and fixing things. These pursuits reflected his curiosity, determination, and zest for life. In retirement, Bert continued to inspire those around him with his wit, wisdom, and generosity of spirit. Even as dementia clouded his later years, his essence – a man of intellect, humour, and compassion – remained a guiding light to his family and friends. Bert’s legacy is one of service, kindness, and a life lived to its fullest.

He leaves behind his four children – two consultant anaesthetists, physiotherapist, and an artist – nine grandchildren, and countless others whose lives he touched. I, for one, feel most fortunate and privileged to have had this great man in my life for 47 years as a highly regarded colleague, mentor, and a very dear friend. A born adventurer, Bert aptly referred to death as 'the last great adventure'. Rest in peace, Bert, reunited now with Berra. Together, you leave behind a legacy of love, adventure, and an enduring reminder of what it means to live with purpose.

Obituary by Victoria Aseervatham, daughter of Dr Van der Knaap.

Dr Jill Van der Knaap (née Close)

Jill Van der Knaap was born in 1943. Despite coming from a family with no medical background, modest means and negligible influence, she made it to the London Hospital Medical College to train as a doctor and qualified in 1967. The London's motto was “Nothing of man is foreign to me” and Jill shared that too with a never ending interest in understanding people and an unerring instinct to help the underdog. She became a psychiatrist, initially working at St Mary's and the Tavistock with children.

Later in life she worked with people with learning disabilities and she believed society is enriched by valuing people with learning disabilities, working to end the isolation, burden and stigma that could occur. She is remembered for being utterly reliable. She emphasised paying attention to supporting systems, the importance of attachment, relationships, communication and connection and bearing witness to peoples stories and being the person you could say the unspeakable to and be understood. Her last role was as consultant in learning disabilities in Hertfordshire.

After retiring she was a keen organiser and attender of reunions and arranged the Harperbury Hospital Old Girls (HOGs) meet ups and attended the LHMC events. She died on 10 Dec 2024 aged 81 of bronchopneumonia, after a very happy year living in a care home where she was the ‘poster girl’ of care home life, living life to the full.

Obituary by Mrs Heather Moriarty-Phillips, wife of Dr Phillips.

Dr John Ernest Phillips MB BCh DPM FRCPsych MRCPsych (Canada)

Dr John Phillips, born in 1935 in Barry South Wales to parents Evelyn and Ernest, died in October 2024 aged 89 of heart failure following a heart attack some twelve months earlier.

He had lived his retirement in Norfolk where he was rejuvenated by the countryside which he enjoyed exploring with his wife Heather, his young children and various lively dogs. He was passionate about his hobbies of photography, golf and keeping fit and maintained an interest in all sports.

John qualified as a doctor in 1960 at the University of Wales, Cardiff and embarked on psychiatry as his chosen path at Fulbourn Hospital Cambridge before deciding to work abroad in Canada. There he worked as a government psychiatrist in Victoria British Columbia then took a post as a teaching fellow for the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

In 1970 back in the UK he was appointed consultant psychiatrist for Torbay Health authority in Devon. He always said the most stimulating time of his career was to be instrumental in the planning of a purpose built 60 bed psychiatric unit on the site of the district general hospital, thus providing the start of care in the community in the Torbay area and the closure of the mental hospitals that served it.

He took a special interest in the development of alternative methods of care for the young chronic behaviorally challenging schizophrenics. He moved from local management duties on to regional medical committees, a secondment to the Health Advisory Service to assess psychiatric services and was also appointed as a second opinion doctor to the Mental Health Act Commission. He served as a member of the executive council of the South West division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and was subsequently elected to the Fellowship of the College.

John married his second wife Heather and they adopted two babies in Sri Lanka when John was aged 55 and he threw himself into being a very active father. He retired in 1993. His initial retirement was short lived returning to work with the NHS for five years for a learning disabled facility, then assisted in the start up of an eating disorder clinic and spent a few more years in forensic psychiatry.

Eventually he was persuaded into full retirement on the cusp of reaching 70. He was able to spend a lot of time with his two adopted children, Joanna and James. Following his heart attack and the resultant heart failure he had two goals, one was to see James’ daughter born, and the other to be able to walk Joanna down the aisle at her wedding and make the father of the bride speech. He achieved both thankfully.

His energy, love and laughter showed through to the end and he is sorely missed, a much loved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Heather, Joanna and James, his younger brother Barry and his sons Mark and Adam from his previous marriage.

Obituary by Gemma Mulreany and Sam Corner, RCPsych staff.

Photo courtesy of Alicia Canter

Professor Sir David Goldberg was a groundbreaking figure in modern psychiatry whose work helped transform mental health services globally. A proponent of integrating mental healthcare into primary care, his career saw him publish distinguished epidemiological research, develop influential tools and frameworks, and train and mentor countless psychiatrists and other health professionals. In addition to his sharp intellect, he was known for his humility, warmth and wit.

Born in 1934 in Hampstead Heath, north London, David entered a world on the brink of upheaval, with the Second World War looming. He was raised with his brother and sister by parents Paul Goldberg and Ruby (née Brandes), descendants of Jewish immigrants from Germany. After the war broke out, the family took in a cousin who escaped Nazi Germany via the Kindertransport.

In 1943, Ruby and the children were evacuated to Oxfordshire. Although distanced from the direct conflict, the family often faced prejudice, and many locals treated them as outsiders. David began to question why people he had never met – whether from Oxfordshire or Germany – would wish him harm. These early experiences may have contributed to his curiosity about human behaviour.

David developed a keen interest in his father’s post-war work as a civil servant managing government training centres and rehabilitation units for returning soldiers. Psychologists would visit his father at the family home, and David often listened in to their work discussions around the dinner table.

At school, he listed psychiatry and biophysics as his top career choices, long before he knew much about either. Inspired by Oliver Zangwill’s An Introduction to Modern Psychology, he decided to pursue psychology. However, his father only agreed on the condition that he study medicine as well. As his father was the one paying, David conceded. It was a decision he didn’t regret.

David began his university studies at Hertford College, Oxford, in 1952, before completing clinical training at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Specialising in psychiatry at the Maudsley starting in 1963, David trained under prominent figures such as Professor Aubrey Lewis – whose presence at the institution drew him to train there – and Professor Michael Shepherd.

David published two widely adopted research tools that have advanced the ability to assess mental health in diverse contexts – the Clinical Interview Schedule in 1970, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in 1972.

Widely used in low- and middle-income countries, a tailored version of the GHQ has allowed practitioners to screen for mental health conditions without requiring specialist training, bringing care to underserved communities. At the University of Manchester, where he became a senior lecturer in 1969 and professor in 1972, David was responsible for teaching around 300 medical students and around 50 junior psychiatrists each year.

All the while, his interest in primary care psychiatry was a developing theme, and after a year as a visiting professor in the States, he was fuelled by more observations of mental disorders being missed in primary care. His research on this topic continued upon his return to Manchester in the form of a collaboration with colleague Professor Peter Huxley. In 1980, the pair developed the Goldberg–Huxley model, also known as the filter model, which outlined the stages of the pathway to psychiatric care, highlighting that the majority of mental healthcare takes place in primary care settings rather than specialist environments.

This work influenced mental health policy, underscoring the need for GPs to be equipped to manage psychiatric disorders. David introduced weekly GP training sessions, focusing on practical diagnostic skills and interview techniques.

Reflecting on this, Professor Dinesh Bhugra, a former RCPsych President and close personal friend, says:

“David was an extraordinary thinker who recognised the importance of primary care psychiatry early on and brought it into focus. His work bridged mental and physical health, changing how we view patient care.”

His influence also extended globally. As a long-term consultant to the World Health Organization, a role he continued into retirement, he contributed to revisions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), ensuring its frameworks reflected cultural differences. Professor Bhugra adds:

“He frequently travelled to give talks and share knowledge, which was deeply important to him.”

He also created a master’s programme aimed at international trainees wanting to study in the UK. Often, he went above and beyond, helping them find accommodation and navigate practical challenges like opening bank accounts. Through his teachings and research, David explored the social determinants of mental health. He recognised that poverty, education, and social conditions profoundly shaped psychological wellbeing, and he advocated for holistic approaches that considered patients’ lives beyond their symptoms.

In the UK, mental healthcare was increasingly delivered in the community, due in part to the Mental Health Act 1959. David encouraged students to consider how services in their countries could improve, and many later influenced policies in nations like India and Pakistan.

Among like-minded others, David played a role in advocating for psychiatric training standards to be raised. During the 1960s, as plans were under way for the Royal Medico-Psychological Association to transition into the Royal College of Psychiatrists, a group of trainees vehemently opposed proposals for a stand-alone membership examination. They were adamant that the plans for the new College should instead prioritise ensuring high standards of specialist training across all locations under its remit, with the exam secondary to that. David supported the trainees, facilitating a letter to The Guardian, which amplified their shared concerns. The trainees’ advocacy efforts contributed to reforms that made training and standard-setting central to the new College, something that continues to this day.

David’s written works are another important element of his legacy. Among the books he authored and co-authored, the seminal The Detection of Psychiatric Illness by Questionnaire, remains foundational to psychiatric research and practice. This is all in addition to his research papers, of which he published over 300.

In recognition of his services to medicine, David was knighted in 1997, and, in 2009, he received RCPsych’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring a career dedicated to alleviating suffering and advancing mental health services. The David Goldberg Centre, part of King’s College London, was established in his name after his retirement in 2000 and continues his work by advancing research and training future generations of psychiatrists.

Despite the extent of his accomplishments, David remained unpretentious and humble. In his homelife, he shared over five decades of marriage with Ilfra (née Pink), a distinguished gastroenterologist. David credited all his professional achievements to her, who he described as his 'basis of stability and happiness'. Married in 1966, they raised four children – Paul, Charlotte, Kate, and Emma – and were together until Ilfra’s death in 2017.

David passed away in September aged 90, having developed Alzheimer’s a few years earlier. In tribute to him, his Oxford college, Hertford, flew its flag at half-mast during the week of his passing.

His children remember him as a resourceful and loving father with a 'wartime mentality' who viewed challenges as surmountable. His daughter Kate recalls how he preferred to build furniture rather than buy it, and how he engaged in debates about literature that inspired her to become an English teacher. She says:

“He was kind, generous, and always reading.” 

Professor Sir David Goldberg once said he didn’t want to be remembered, but his impact on psychiatry – marked by compassion and innovation – continues to influence patients, colleagues, and trainees worldwide. In addition to his four children, he is addition to his four children, he is survived by nine grandchildren.

Obituary by Indrajit Tiwari, close friend of Dr Karki, and Akash Karki, Dr Karki's son.

Dr Chuda Bahadur Karki MRCPsych FRCPsych (7 November 1948–28 August 2024)

Dr Chuda Bahadur Karki, retired Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director, Northeast Essex PCT, died from heart failure following cardiac surgery aged 75.

Chuda was born in Bhojpur, Nepal, in the foothills of the Himalayas and was the eldest of 9 siblings. He was the first in his family to attend university. As there was no local school, his education only started aged eight, when his grandfather sent him to Kathmandu. He quickly caught up as his headteacher promoted him to the next class every six months. He first studied botany at University before graduating from MLN Medical College, Allahabad, India in 1972.

He returned to Nepal to work at health centres in remote areas before he came to the UK in 1979. Here, he initially worked in Scotland before training in England where he developed his special interest in learning disabilities. He was appointed as a consultant at New Possibilities Trust in 1989. Chuda pursued psychiatry and applied the same vigour here to succeed. He did, retiring as medical director of the Trust. Probably the first one from Nepal.

Chuda was a long serving Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and also a member of its Diaspora group. The College also supported Chuda by providing educational materials for his post-earthquake relief work in Nepal, following the disaster in 2015. Here he helped to train over 50 Nepalese psychiatrists and psychologists in EMDR to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Dr Karki will be remembered for his kindness, dedication and the positive impact he had on patients with learning disabilities. He was actively involved in service development. His inclusive, holistic approach helped advance the care of his patients and challenge societal norms. As head of R&D at New Possibilities Trust he was committed to regular audits, emphasising lessons learnt to drive forward positive change and nurture the next generation of psychiatrists. He was honoured with a BAMM Fellow Award for leadership during his directorship tenure.

Chuda was one of life’s good guys. Giving back was a fundamental guiding principle. He was a founding member of the Nepalese Doctors Association UK and past Chair. A deeply engaged Rotarian, who was also involved with various charitable organisations locally and abroad. He joined medical camps in Sierra Leone, Russia, India, and Nepal to support people not fortunate enough to get adequate medical care.

He was a passionate gardener and traveller who always wanted to take part in another adventure, to explore and help the world that little bit more.

Dr Karki is survived by his wife, Anju and two sons, Abhi and Akash.

Obituary by Dr Alistair Macleod, son of Dr Macleod.

Dr Torquil Hector Rees Macleod MB BS FRCPsych DPM, born 5 April 1930, died 10 April 2024

Dr Torquil Macleod, who has died aged 94, was a retired consultant psychiatrist and Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1930, the first son of Hebridean parents. His father was an army Major and his mother was a medical doctor. In 1938, the family returned to Britain and soon after Torquil and his brother were evacuated to the Isle of Lewis, for the duration of the Second World War. After the war, Torquil moved to Edinburgh, where he attended George Heriot’s school

Torquil was directed to follow in his mother’s footsteps and studied medicine at Charing Cross Medical School, qualifying in 1955. He developed his passion for classical music, in particular chamber music and became increasingly interested in Hi-Fi. Soon after qualifying, Torquil was conscripted into National Service, first as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Cairnryan, Scotland, followed by an eighteen month tour of duty in Ghana. Despite the challenges of working in a developing country, Torquil enjoyed his time in Ghana immensely.

Back home in Britain, Torquil returned to Charing Cross to train as a psychiatrist, attaining the Diploma of Psychological Medicine in 1962. It was during this period that he met Ann, who was working as a staff nurse at Charing Cross Hospital. They married in Hampstead in 1963 and last year they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, after a long and happy marriage.

Eventually, Torquil’s career took him to Liverpool, where he became a lecturer at Liverpool University, honorary senior registrar and then consultant in adult general psychiatry at Rainhill Hospital, which at the time was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Europe. It was in Liverpool that Torquil and Ann’s three sons Alistair, Duncan and Calum were born.

By the mid-seventies, Torquil was ready for another change and he felt the pull to return to the Hebrides. He took a job as a single-handed GP on the east coast of Lewis, where the family lived in a small, remote village. Torquil continued to work in General Practice for a few years, having moved to the other end of the country, in Poole, Dorset. However, he missed psychiatry and he made the unusual step of ‘breaking back’ into the specialty, securing a consultant job at Sutton Hospital in south London. Here he received medical students from St George’s Hospital medical school, undergoing their rotation in psychiatry.

Torquil was passionate about teaching and felt privileged to have been involved in the training of many junior doctors and medical students over the years. Torquil loved this stage in his career, developing the wards and raising the morale of the team. This led to his unit winning a ‘Centre of Excellence’ award, one of only four in the country, at the time. Liaison work with the College, led to Torquil being elected to Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Retirement came in the early nineties and a move back to the south coast, this time to Seaford, in Sussex. Torquil took up the viola and it wasn’t long before he formed a string quartet, that met weekly for the best part of twenty years. Torquil also studied for a certificate in Music Composition at Sussex University and went on to compose two string quartets.

The pandemic brought an end to the quartet meetings, but Torquil kept in touch with his friends and family with weekly blogs, that were filled with anecdotes, jokes and aphorisms and he continued the blogs up until the time of his death. His love of loudspeakers never left him and at the age of ninety-three he could still be found in the garage, with a saw and drill, making one of his patented loudspeaker cabinets.

Torquil enjoyed good health throughout his life, until the last few months. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family.

Obituary by Professor Alan Eppel, nephew of Dr Abrahamson.

Dr David Abrahamson MBE FRCPI FRCPsych

David Abrahamson was born in Dublin under rather remarkable circumstances. He was the second of a pair of very premature twins delivered with great difficulty at the Portobello Nursing Home. Some days after the delivery there was a fire in the building. David, his twin brother Max, and their mother had to be rapidly evacuated. At home the twins were kept in shoeboxes inside a chest of drawers! Incubators were not available! David always recounted this story with a sense of resilience. David was the fifth child of Tillie and Leonard Abrahamson.

Before qualifying as a physician at Trinity College Dublin David had practised as a veterinarian. His interest in psychiatry was piqued when, as a senior house officer at the North Middlesex Hospital, he was impressed with the sense of camaraderie among the psychiatric patients. This was one of the factors that led him to appreciate the importance of social networks In 1960 he became a senior registrar at the Maudsley Hospital in London. This was during the time when Aubrey Lewis was Chair of Psychiatry. David came to believe that there was too much distance between psychiatrists and their patients. This often diminished the essential humane nature of the treatment relationship.

He was appointed as a consultant at the Goodmayes Hospital in East London. There he had responsibility for two acute inpatient units, one unit for 'disturbed' patients and three hundred long-stay patients. He was highly committed to the NHS and refused to engage in any form of private practice. He undertook detailed research of 491 long-stay patients at Goodmayes. He demonstrated that many of these patients did not exhibit much deterioration from the time of their admission and had long stable periods. This indicated to him the potential for rehabilitation and resettlement.

David was successful in moving long- stay patients into the community. Of prime importance in his approach was working with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team and with local housing authorities. He and his team succeeded because they did not treat long stay patients as 'second class'. He had demonstrated that most patients did not have a progressive decline. He recognised the existence of meaningful social networks on long stay units and the importance of maintaining these when moving into community housing.

Over the ensuing three decades multiple housing units with varying formats were established in collaboration with housing authorities. He discovered that when long stay patients moved into supported housing they missed their friends from the wards even when these patients were unable to speak. David and his team set up a weekly social club which he attended. It was for his work with long stay patients and their move into community housing that he was awarded the MBE in 2002.

He was beloved by his family and devoted to his wife Valerie of 60 years. Valerie had been a ballerina with the Royal Ballet and the Festival Ballet companies and taught dance for several years. As well as a having a brilliant intellect, David had a subtle dry wit which never failed to entertain at family gatherings and celebrations. He took great interest in his daughters’ careers and was an inspiration to them. Leonie worked at the Anna Freud Centre in London and has taught Early Childhood Education. She is the author of 'The Early Years Teacher’s Book'. Vanessa has had a distinguished academic and research career in applied Health and Social Care research, very much in line with her father’s vision.

David Abrahamson was a physician possessed of great humanity, intellect, and compassion. He was dedicated to the care of the most seriously psychiatric ill patients. He made their lives better.

Obituary by Susan Merskey, widow of Dr Merskey.

Dr Harold Merskey DM FRCP FRCP(C) FRCPsych

Harold Merskey, who died on May 15, 2024 of vascular dementia, was born and brought up in Sunderland. For nearly 60 years, Harold was an exemplary psychiatrist and pain management specialist. He was internationally renowned for his work in pain management and contributed greatly to other areas such as false memory syndrome, hysteria and dementia.

His early research interests grew out of his work with individual patients. He saw that helping patients whose chronic pain was ignored because it was in soft tissue was paramount, whether through research to establish better prescribing methods or assistance to reach decent settlements from insurance companies after motor vehicle accidents. Harold’s commitment to patient care and scientific research advanced the study and treatment for pain, and our understanding of dementia.

As a young man, he wrote the definition for pain which remained in use for decades. Author of more than a dozen volumes, and 400 publications, Harold was a prodigious writer, a fine teacher, a mentor and colleague to friends around the world and across several generations. People reached out to him regularly; they relied on his discretion, his wisdom, and his compassion. In the broader community, Harold was proud to help combat the abuses of psychiatry and speak out on behalf of political and religious dissidents trapped in the former Soviet Union in the 1960s to 1980s. Privately and professionally, he was always willing to speak up for those who could not speak for themselves.

Harold qualified in Medicine from Oxford University in 1953. He started his psychiatric training during his National Service, before gaining his Diploma in Psychological Medicine and becoming a Members of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association. He held positions in Sunderland, Sheffield, Nottinghamshire and the then National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London, before moving to London, Ontario in 1976 as Director of Education and Research at the then London Psychiatric Hospital and a Professor in the University of Western Ontario’s Department of Psychiatry.

Harold was a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and of the Canadian Pain Society where he served as President (1988-1991). He was the first Chair of IASP’s International Pain Classification Committee and founding Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Pain Research and Management. He was a founding Member, later, a Fellow, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of both England and Canada.

Harold’s work was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Distinguished Career Award from the Canadian Pain Society. In 2016, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Western Ontario.

Harold was a devoted and loving family man. Married to Susan for fifty-nine years, he was immensely proud of their three children and five grandchildren’s achievements. He enjoyed spending time with family members and they with him; each one has their own special memories of those times.

Obituary by David St Clair and Robert Wrate, friends and colleagues of Professor Whalley.

Professor LJ Whalley MBBS MD DPM FRCP(E) FRCPsych, born 3 March 1946, died Edinburgh 11 April 2024

Born in Lancashire, one of five children, Lawrence was educated at St Joseph’s College in Blackpool. His intellectual curiosity, partly inspired by the teaching brothers, continued undiminished thereafter. After graduating in medicine from Newcastle University and postgraduate psychiatric training in Edinburgh, including an MD in 1976, he was for eight years Senior Clinical Scientist at the MRC Brain Metabolism Unit in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital; there Lawrence along with fellow consultant psychiatrist Dr Janice Christie directed a clinical psychiatric neuroendocrine research programme with special emphasis on major affective disorders. He developed during this time a parallel interest in dementia, and observed that early-onset cases seemed to cluster in the community. After a short period as senior lecturer in psychiatry in Edinburgh, in 1988 he accepted the Crombie Ross Professorship in Mental Health at the University of Aberdeen.

Not long after moving to Aberdeen University Lawrence and his wife Patricia, who was a teacher, discovered an epidemiological gold mine as in 1932 and 1947 all pupils in Scotland aged eleven were IQ tested and the records archived by the Scottish council for research in education. Permission was granted to access these long forgotten records of around 150,000 one-time eleven-year-olds for medical research. Then began a series of ground breaking follow up studies of the original eleven-year-olds. With key involvement of Edinburgh collaborators Professors Ian Deary and the late John Starr, it became possible in both Aberdeen and then in Edinburgh to trace most of these individuals, and if still alive obtain their consent to be re-examined using modern methods; this allowed a life-course approach to understanding brain health and cognitive decline in later life. It emerged that lower eleven-year-old IQ predicted both increased life-time morbidity and mortality (e.g. by lung cancer) independent of social class, together with enhanced decline in higher cognitive functioning.

A prestigious Wellcome Trust Professorial Fellowship (2001-2006) allowed him to pursue his academic research work full time; this included writing for lay readership The Ageing Brain (2001, 2004). Lawrence published prodigiously throughout his career and retirement, including at least 300 scientific papers and seven books.

Lawrence married his first wife Patricia as a medical student; they had three daughters; he married his second wife Helen while based in Aberdeen. Although more than fifty years in Scotland, Lawrence remained proud of his Lancashire roots, and he never lost his accent. Underlying his direct way of speaking and sometimes brusque manner lay a complex emotional man for whom personal relationships were extremely important, most of all with his large circle of family members. 

He will be remembered not only for his academic dedication and outstanding achievements, but for his character, full of energy, generosity and loyalty to friends, family members, and colleagues both academic and NHS.

He is survived by his two ex-wives Patricia and Helen, his three daughters, three stepchildren and six grandchildren.

Obituary by Dr Ronald Galloway and Dr Michael Doherty.

Dr William Norris OBE MD FRCPsych FRCPI

Dr William (known as Bill) Anderson Norris OBE was born on 17 June 1925 and died on the 19 October 2023 in his 99th year. His parents were Elsie and William, who was a police officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He was born in Belfast and had two siblings, Herbert and the late Helen. Dr Norris attended Belfast High School. He studied medicine at The Queen’s University of Belfast and graduated in 1948 with MB, BCh, BAO. His initial interest was in neurology but he credits the influence of his consultant and mentor, the distinguished neurologist Dr Sydney Allison who unusually had a DPM as stimulating his interest in psychiatry as a career. There was no formal course in psychiatry in Belfast at this time. Dr Allison offered to teach Dr Norris about psychiatry and he in return would update Dr Allison with neuroanatomy demonstrations. Along with a colleague from Claremont Street neurological hospital, they regularly went to Dr Allison’s home where Mrs Allison provided tea and sandwiches at the half time mark. In 1952 he obtained an MD, DPM and MRCPI and in the same year also became a registrar in Purdysburn Mental Hospital, Belfast.

Treatment options were very limited then consisting of a mixture of sedatives, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and insulin coma therapy (ICT). In 1955 he was given the opportunity to work as clinical assistant to Dr William Sargent in London. Dr Sargent specialised in physical methods of treatment ranging from abreaction to leucotomy. It was while he was in London that phenothiazine medication was introduced into psychiatric practice followed shortly by antidepressant medication. He describes in his written papers how exciting this time was with the resulting impact of a reduction in stigma associated with psychiatry and the possibilities for treatment of people with a mental disorder in the community.

Dr Norris was appointed as Senior Hospital Medical officer (SHMO) in 1956 at the age of 31 years and then consultant psychiatrist two years later, when the posts became available, to both Purdyburn Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital. He later obtained the MRCPsych (1971), FRCPI (1981) and FRCPsych (1982).

Dr Norris was very dedicated to developing community mental health services as an alternative to hospitalisation. He was indefatigable throughout his professional life in developing services and improving standards. His personal and managerial skills were recognised at a very early stage. He was tasked with the development of Albertbridge Road Day Hospital (ABRDH) (1962), which was one of the first 'stand alone' day hospitals in Ireland. Throughout the 'Troubles' ABRDH successfully served people from both unionist and nationalist areas. However, there were at times disturbances in the vicinity of the Day Hospital, like many parts of Belfast, which necessitated an early closure on specific days. Dr Norris used to recount that on one occasion after a night of violence, he found a bullet had penetrated a window in his office and passed over the top of his chair. His in-patient beds were in Rathlin unit, Purdysburn Hospital where he had an excellent relationship with his colleagues Dr Alex Lyons, Dr Artie Kerr and Dr Sean Egan.

In parallel to developing a very successful inpatient, day patient and outpatient psychiatric service, he was very much involved in mental health service planning and in great demand. This included the development of a vision for the elderly “Geriatric and Psychiatric services for the Elderly” HMSO 1970. He was on many committees in both the Dept. of Health and Social Services (DHSS) as well as Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB). He was a Psychiatric Examiner for the General Medical Council and Psychiatric Adviser to the Northern Ireland Civil Service. He also regularly participated in the teaching of students of all mental health professions.

Dr Norris became Group Medical Administrator (Unit Clinician) to the Purdysburn unit of management (1984) as well as Programme Director for the 'Implementation and Planning Group, Mental Health' EHSSB (1987). These were key roles in the process of the transfer of resources from the large mental hospitals to the development of community mental health services. With the introduction of the new Mental Health (NI) Order 1986, Dr Norris was appointed as a medical member of the first Northern Ireland Mental Health Commission (1986). These significant roles complemented each other and were a perfect match for his personal and managerial skill mix. He was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 1990. In later times The Royal College of Psychiatrists acknowledged his contribution to the profession through dedicating a book in his name, a tribute of which he was very proud. The book, Fearn, J (1812) An Essay on Consciousness or A Series of Evidences of a Distinct Mind. London: Longman., now restored, resides in the library at 21 Prescott Street, London.

He also played significant roles in professional bodies during his career. He was chair of the Psychological Medicine Group in the British Medical Association (1962-1964) and in the Royal College of Psychiatrists he was Chair of the Northern Ireland section (1984-1987) and vice-chair of the Irish Division (1985 - 1988).

Even after retirement in 1990, he took on a new challenging and important role as Deputy Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres in 1993. This was set up out of concerns for how people, who were detained under the Terrorism Act, were being treated in the Holding Centres. When the Independent Commissioner Sir Louis Blom-Cooper retired in 2000, Dr Norris was offered and accepted this role in which he continued for another eight years.

Dr Norris took equal satisfaction from family life as he did from his career. A great sportsman with the countryside at heart, he had a variety of interests ranging from shooting game, fishing and sailing – passions he shared with his sons. Throughout his life he balanced the demanding pace of his career with the tranquillity of tending his garden and woodlands, travelling the world with family or the simplicity of a good escapist book in the sunshine. He had a great fondness for Donegal, where in his earlier years he had kept an active small holding. He always enjoyed new projects and challenges and was full of the 'joie de vivre'.

He was predeceased by his first wife Ruby, with whom he had three children: Gareth, Kieron and Niall. He married Val in 1982 and they had two children: Nicholas and Andrew.

He was much respected by all of his colleagues, always open to help, encourage and warn, when appropriate, with a great sense of humour.

As Dr Noel Scott, who was his honorary secretary in the Northern Ireland section, Irish Division, RCPsych, summarised: “Acta est fabula, plaudite”… His works on the stage of life are finished – now applaud.

Obituary provided by Onikepe’s daughter Dr Elohor (Ellie) Ijete.

Dr Onikepe Ijete, (née Esuruoso) was born in 1967 at Chelsea, London to the late Professor Emeritus Oladele Folarin Esuruoso from Isale Igbein in Abeokuta, south west Nigeria and her late mother Mrs Gladys Omoleye Esuruoso (née Egerton-Shyngle) from Lagos Island, Nigeria.

The young Onike, who has 10 siblings, attended Abadina School, University of Ibadan and Federal Girls’ Government College Oyo, Nigeria before securing entry to the prestigious University of Ibadan to study Medicine. She married and then emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1992 and gave birth to her daughter Dr Elohor Ijete in 1993.

Onike Ijete faced the struggle to requalify by passing her PLAB licensing exams in the UK, while fulfilling her role as a mother and a wife. She handled this period of her life with grace and resilience and would often tell the story of her experiences to inspire others on a similar journey. After passing PLAB she completed her postgraduate core training in psychiatry at the East London and the City rotational training scheme, London UK.

Following this, she started work as a specialty doctor in forensic psychiatry at the North London Forensic Service in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Foundation (BEH) Trust in 2008. Onike dutifully carved out a pivotal role in the rehabilitation service she worked in. In October 2018 she was featured in BEH Trust Matters for her outreach work on the importance of positive mental well-being amongst the African/African Caribbean community. As part of the Blue Nile House multidisciplinary team, Onike won the Specialist Service Improvement Champion Award at the BEH Celebrating Excellence Annual Awards 2018 and the Diamond Team Award in 2019.

As a black, female, internationally trained specialty doctor, who was a wheelchair user, she had lived experience of many intersectional issues, and used this experience and her unfailing commitment to advocate for race, gender, and disability equality and inclusion. She launched into a long campaign for reasonable adjustments as her mobility became more limited. Through that, she honed her public policy and public speaking skills as she campaigned for her own and other disabled people’s rights. This she did within the NHS and beyond.

Onike’s equalities work inspired her daughter and in 2015 they cofounded Inception, a free online peer group, to support minoritised ethnic secondary school students, medical students and doctors in the UK and internationally on their medical journey. In 2019, they were invited to the seat of the UK government at 10 Downing Street to discuss ways to increase the number of doctors from minoritised ethnic backgrounds working in the NHS and to help address health inequalities.

Onike focused heavily on her daughter’s welfare and education, and was rewarded by her daughter’s graduating with a First Class in Biochemistry in 2014 and as a medical doctor in 2020. She was able to celebrate her daughter’s achievement with family and friends in August 2023, just over three months before her passing. With her motherly duties lightened as her daughter Dr Elohor Ijete became a woman in her own right, Onike began to stretch her wings; between 2019 and 2023, she travelled to France three times, the USA, Czech Republic, Nigeria and Jamaica as well as the length and breadth of Britain. In all her travels she constantly challenged the inadequate provision of accessible provision for disabled people and used her lived experience as a mother, black woman, internationally trained doctor, wheelchair user and patient to inform her own clinical practice. 

Dr Onike Ijete worked closely with the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) to promote greater equity for disabled psychiatrists. In October 2020, she was invited to contribute a video clip for the RCPsych second online conference on mental health and the African and African Caribbean diaspora. In December 2021, she was celebrated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, through a blog post and an interview where she spoke on disability as strength. She was also featured in RCPsych Insight Magazine. In February 2022, her photograph featured as one of the Faces of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is still displayed till today. She was also part of the RCPsych Disability Task and Finish group which was focused on equity and inclusion for psychiatrists with disabilities. A week before her tragic death she had just delivered a brainstorming presentation, combining her journey as a disabled black woman with cutting-edge insights on focusing on enablement rather than the impairment.

In her spare time, Onike enjoyed listening to music, (and was often more current than her daughter) watching films and travelling. Onike’s life celebrated the rich heritage of Egba^* women as campaigners for justice. A devout Christian, she regularly attended Global Restoration Church, London from 1996 and formed a lasting bond with her pastor and other congregants. She was the treasurer of the church for many years and gave back continuously to the church that supported her over the years. She folded her heritage, faith and professionalism into her lived experience to create a torch to light the way to a more inclusive future.  She will be sorely missed by her family, social community, workplace and profession. While her body rests in peace from its labours, may her works and name live on and continue to inspire.

* The Egba people are a subgroup of the Yoruba people, an ethnic group of western Nigeria, well known for campaigning for justice and holding leadership positions.

Obituary by Dr Marco Piero Piccinelli, colleague and friend.

On 15 January 2023 Professor Greg Wilkinson suddenly died and I lost a mentor in psychiatry and, most of all, a good friend.

I met Greg for the first time in summer 1989 at the General Practice Research Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, where he occupied the position of senior registrar after his graduation in medicine at Edinburgh University and his training in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London. Greg introduced me into the Institute, never taking the lift and walking quickly along the corridors and from floor to floor. I was a young inexperienced doctor, recently graduated from university and on the verge of starting his PhD in Psychiatric Sciences, and possibly got a long lasting imprinting by Greg. Still today, it happens that my colleagues and patients point to my fast pace throughout the hospital. Among other things, Greg led me to the secretary distributing discounted or free of charge tickets for cultural events to students. In this way, I absorbed and combined psychiatry and art, which I later discovered was a Greg’s attitude to life.

Between April and November 1992 I regularly attended the Academic Department of Psychiatry at the Royal London Hospital in London, where Greg held the position of Professor of Psychiatry since January that year, after being the first Director of the Subdepartment of Psyhological Medicine of University of Wales College of Medicine in Denbigh for the previous two years. At that time, Greg was very busy building his new department and, thus, I was mainly working by myself during the day. After leaving the hospital late in the afternoon, he drove me to his place where we spent a couple of hours working together. I was sitting behind him in front of the computer and looked at him while he was elaborating what I had written during the day, cutting down sentences, changing logical sequences, creating new connections, suggesting new topics. In this way, I had the valuable chance of making personal experience of his knowledge in psychiatry and talent in writing, which he put at the service of the British Journal of Psychiatry when he became editor in the period 1993-2003. Years later, I read about Fernanda Pivano doing the same with Ernest Hemingway in Cuba and remaining fascinated. Greg was amused when I told him that he was my own Hemingway whose iceberg principle he applied in writing, leaving visible only few and clear aspects of a topic and underwater most of the collected material to give the iceberg a proper stability and not overburden the reader.

In order to increase the chance of working together and make my stays abroad fruitful, Greg often offered me to spend weekends with his family in Wales and this habit persisted after he became Professor of Liaison Psychiatry at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where I got an MPhil in Psychiatry with him as my tutor. In this way, our personal room, including at the beginning mainly psychiatric topics, research methods, statistical analyses and academic papers (plus art), was gradually filled with disparate elements and experiences from everyday life, thanks to Greg’s multifaceted curiosity and tastes, and became stimulating and lively, allowing our spirit to grow alongside our professional knowledge.

I am truly grateful for this to Greg, his wife Christine and their four children, Adam, Victoria, Alexander and Dominic, and this is the legacy of our everlasting friendship. 

Obituary by Matthew Evans, Brenda's son.

My mum, Dr Brenda Lintner, who has died aged 92, was a psychiatrist, a Fellow of both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Edinburgh, a former political activist, and a lover of opera and the arts. 

Born in Birkenhead, an only child, to working-class parents, James Bird, a docker, and Eveline (nee Pye), a housewife, she taught herself to read before primary school and then passed the 11-plus, before attending Wirral grammar school for girls.

She became the first girl from her school to be accepted into medical school and was one of only three women in a class of more than 100 medical students at Liverpool University. She supported her studies through a variety of factory jobs.

After qualification, she worked in a number of house and surgical jobs, including at Liverpool Royal Infirmary, but found it all too impersonal and chose psychiatry instead, a decision she never regretted. There followed jobs as a Senior House Officer at Littlemore Hospital, Oxford, and then a Registrar at Barrow Hospital, Bristol. 

In her youth, Brenda was an active member of the Workers Revolutionary party. Later she joined the Labour Party and wrote articles on medicine and politics for publications such as Socialist Review.

In 1961 offered a job at the Gracie Square Hospital in New York, she faced several hours of questioning by US immigration officials on arrival about her political activities. Her sponsor, Dr Lother Kalinowsky, a prominent Jewish psychiatrist who had fled Germany in the 1930s, persuaded them that this woman, all five-foot-two of her, was not in fact a grave threat to American society.

She stayed for two years, leaving when the need to check people’s credit and insurance status before treating them became too much.

Back in the UK she worked at Cane Hill Hospital, and was a senior lecturer in medicine at Birmingham and Leeds universities, before another working adventure as a visiting lecturer in Calgary and Nova Scotia, Canada.

Brenda became a Consultant Psychiatrist to Runwell and the Southend Group of Hospitals in late 1960s, and for several years worked at East Ham Memorial which was at the time a particular responsibility of Runwell Hospital. 

She was particularly interested in adolescent problems and community treatment, setting up several community clinics, including on Canvey Island. She was also Involved in the training of junior doctors, GPs, and volunteers for organisations such as CRUSE and the Samaritans,

After my father died, Brenda raised me as a single parent before finding happiness again some years later with Jiri Lintner, a retired GP, whom she had known since they had worked together on Canvey. They married in 1986 and moved to Dorset.

Although Brenda stopped working as a hospital consultant, she continued to be active and enjoyed travelling, combining trips to China, South Africa, Easter Island, and the Antarctic with other passions such as opera and Chinese food. She completed a degree at the Open University and helped set up SANE’s advice line. 

Brenda was also an active member of the Mental Health Review Tribunals for over 15 years and wrote two books. The first was for families of people with schizophrenia. The second, Living with Teenagers (difficult ones, was the sub-text), was dedicated to me.

In her last years, she moved to Brighton. She is survived by me and her three granddaughters, Alice, Izzie, and Jess. 

Obituary by Dr Sharon Belmo, Charles' daughter.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Charles Aryiku, retired Consultant Psychiatrist and former Honorary Consulate General of Ghana, who left this world on 19 March 2023. He was 71 years of age.

He will be remembered for his provision of mental health services across Scotland and his dedication to building relationships between Ghana and the UK with his consular work.

His Excellency, Dr Charles Aryiku completed his medical training at Ghana Medical school in 1975. He worked as a house officer in Accra Psychiatric Hospital, the first of three psychiatric hospitals in Ghana, moving on to Pantang hospital, Accra.

At the mere age of five, Charles fondly remembered his homeland of Ghana gaining independence from UK in 1957. It did however remain within the Commonwealth and therefore benefited from Commonwealth scholarships.

In 1979, Charles was awarded a three-year Commonwealth scholarship to undergo post-graduate training in psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh. He underwent his training at Royal Edinburgh, Morningside and Dingleton hospitals.

In 1982, having successfully obtained MRCPsych, Charles was encouraged to apply for a consultant post which he attained. Charles worked as a consultant at Bellsdyke Hospital, Falkirk, followed by Lennox Castle Hospital, Glasgow.

Charles would also do locums across Scotland and England to support his growing family. After locuming at Ailsa hospital, Ayr, Charles secured a substantive post. In 1990, The Aryiku family moved from Stirling to Ayr, where they would remain.

Charles practiced general adult psychiatry and had specialist interests in PTSD, depressive illness and other affective disorders. He was also an accredited clinical hypnotherapist which he greatly utilised in his treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders, as well as practicing on his family!

While working at Ailsa, Charles also became a prison consultant psychiatrist serving prisons across Scotland in addition to Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre. He was also a second-opinion psychiatrist for Dumfries and Galloway. Charles was a board member of the Hansel foundation, Ayrshire, and BMI Carrick Glen hospital, where he also had a private practice.

At Ailsa, he received Dundee Medical School students for their psychiatric rotations as well as having an “Agony Uncle” service for healthcare workers. Charles retired from Ailsa in 2011, only to pursue a new career as the first and only appointed Honorary Consulate of Ghana. Appointed in 2009, Charles brought his beloved homeland of Ghana to Ayr, setting up office to issue Visa’s to those wishing to travel to Ghana.

Over the years, Charles promoted socio-cultural, economic, educational and trade links between Ghana and Scotland whilst protecting the interests of all Ghanaians in Scotland. He was an inspiration to many Ghanaians, often being invited to speak at events, and was very well known for his motivational speeches.

Charles’ life was a testament to his strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit. He faced many challenges throughout his life, but never lost faith in the power of unity, kindness and love. He touched countless lives with his empathy, compassion and generosity. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Charles is survived by his wife, Cynthia, his three children; Charles, Sharon and Cheryl, and his five grandchildren; Jessica, Christelle, Cruz, Andre and Celine, who will miss him deeply.

The Funeral service will take place at St Columba Church (Ayr, KA7 2SL) on Monday 17 April 2023 at 3pm followed by a reception at The Western House Hotel (Ayr, KA8 0HA) to celebrate his life. 

Obituary by Samuel Harvey, Peter's nephew.

Dr Peter John Cooper born 1953, son of Marie and Paul, passed away on 28th January 2023, at the age of 69.

Born in the valleys of South Wales, he went on to study medicine at Birmingham University in 1971. Specialising in Psychiatry, his first registrar post was in Kidderminster in 1984, where he later became a consultant in 1990. He lamented that the pressures of his general psychiatric work left him little time for his main passion, psychotherapy.

He will be remembered by the Forensic Faculty and the special interest group with which he was involved. Peter loved teaching, mentoring and teaching, and will do doubt make a huge impact on his trainees that went on to use their trade today.

In the late 1990s, he returned to his roots in Wales where he worked at Bronllys Hospital in Powys. Soon after, he married his wife, Susan, who also worked in mental health. She survives him, along with his stepdaughter, Claire, in Brecon.

Always full of energy, his interests were broad and eclectic. He was a passionate photographer, capable mountaineer, and for many years participated in the parliamentary artillery in the English Civil War re-enactment society, the Sealed Knot.

A consummate host, Peter loved putting on a feast for his family and friends, sharing his love of good wine, cheese, and gastronomy. No gardening project was too big for him; he loved horticulture and experimented with many different gardening styles. His other big love was collecting pottery including from artists Bernard leech and Lucy Ree.

He was passionate about psychiatry, but the profession and dwindling resources took their toll. He managed to enjoy at least a decade of early retirement before his passing. He absorbed knowledge like a sponge, amassing a small library at his home in Cwm Brook, including history, fiction, and poetry, and would often recite Dylan Thomas or Joseph Conrad after a fine single malt.

In retirement, the learning would not cease. He learned Spanish and travelled in northern Spain, and he returned to college to formalise one of his key interests with a first-class honours degree in photography in 2022.

Peter died satisfied, having lived a full life, with the experiences he had and the people he had known. He will be remembered for his great sense of humour, (sometimes caustic) wit, and strong moral compass.

For condolences and funeral arrangements, please contact his nephew, Samuel Harvey, at samuel.harvey@nhs.net.