BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL

31 JANUARY 1976

287

OBITUARY NOTICES

Sir ALEXANDER HADDOW DSC, PHD, MD, FRSE, FRS

Sir Alexander Haddow, emeritus professor of experimental pathology in London University, died on 21 January. He was 69.

FJCR writes: Sir Alexander Haddow enjoyed world-wide renown in the field of cancer research. It was under his direction at the

ChesterBeattyRethat the concept of cancer chemotherapy first became

a

reality.

Haddow qualified in medicine at Edinburgh Univrsity in 1929. After obtaining the Davidson Research Fellowship

he joined the staff of the bacteriology department at that university. It was while he was working there that he first became interested in cancer as a disease and made the key observation that those polycyclic hydrocarbons which cause cancer exhibit growth-inhibitory properties. In 1936 he moved to London to work under Sir Ernest Kennaway at the Royal Cancer Hospital and in 1946 succeeded Sir Ernest as director of what then became known as the Chester Beatty Research Institute. During the late 1940s and early 1950s he headed an active team of scientists who produced three important cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, busulphan, melphalan, and chlorambucil. On becoming director of the Chester Beatty Research Institute he was appointed to the chair of experimental pathology in the University of London. He was

elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1958. From 1962 to 1966 he was president of the International Union against Cancer, and particularly during and after this time was the recipient of numerous honours, including medals, prizes, and honorary degrees in many different countries. In 1965 he had conferred on him the cross of Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and he was knighted in 1966. During the 1960s Haddow let his energy and idealism take him into broader fields, including politics. Thus, among other things, he became president of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, deputy chairman of the Association for World Government, a member of the executive committee of the Great Britain-USSR Association, a lay member of the Press Council, chairman of the BBC Science Consultative Group, and a member of the BBC General Advisory Council. What of Alex, the man? For one so widely and deeply involved in research and public affairs, his thoughtfulness and concern for the lowliest of his staff and for scientific colleagues in research institutes all over the

world were as endearing as they were remarkable and stood as shining examples for all his staff to see. Alex believed in laissez-faire. It was against his principles to dictate to his staff what research they should do even when he intuitively knew that they were on a wrong course. He justified his lack of interference on the grounds that, historically, most significant discoveries have been made by people fired by their own theories and following their own noses. But not everyone agreed that this was the best way to direct an institute, and his liberal approach came to be increasingly criticised by those who, along with Rothschild, believed that research should be targeted. Haddow's generosity in making allowances of the weaknesses of others was in sharp contrast to the discipline which governed his own life. He would work long into the night rather than fail to fulfil a scientific commitment or a social duty. When, during the last few years of his life, ill health robbed him first of his sight and then of a limb, he brushed aside not only the difficulties but also all expressions of sympathy and carried on with his life's work with stalwart determination. Numerous individuals, both scientists and non-scientists, throughout the world feel personally grateful to Alex Haddow for his interest and for his help. He married Miss Lucia Black in 1932, by whom he had a son. She died in 1968 and, in 1969, he married Miss Feo Standing. His son and second wife survive him.

appointment with a drug firm. At the time of his death he was a medical director of Carlo Erba Pharmaceuticals. AM writes: I first met him almost 20 years ago when he was my assistant in the War Office. He was a brilliant staff officer who in his work combined speed with accuracy and had he stayed in the Army his future would have been assured. But what I will always remember is his unfailing zest for life, his charm, and his wit. Not for nothing was he known as Mickey. He will be sadly missed. To his wife and five sons and to his mother we extend our deepest sympathy.

W B GABRIEL MS, FRCS

Mr W B Gabriel, consulting surgeon to the Royal Northern and St Mark's hospitals, London, died on 11 November. He was 82. William Bashall Gabriel was born on 2 October 1893 and spent his boyhood at Oulton Broad, Suffolk. There he

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Lieutenant-Colonel J F F ROONEY MBE, BA, MB, BCHIR, RAMC(Ret) Lieutenant-Colonel J F F Rooney died on 12 January. He was 53. John Foster Fenton Rooney was born at Lahore, India, on 13 January 1922 and educated at Downside School, Cambridge University, and Guy's Hospital. Graduating in medicine in 1947, he joined the RAMC in September that year, was granted a permanent commission in 1949, and served with distinction both as a regimental and as a staff officer in various appointments. He was in the Far East from 1948 to 1950 at the Military Hospital Singapore, Army and RAF movement pool, and 16 Field Ambulance RAMC, and then moved to 26 Field Ambulance in Korea for a short period before his appointment as DADMS to 2 Commonwealth Division. On his return home in 1954 he was appointed as an instructor at the Field Training School RAMC and from there went to the Staff College at Camberley to obtain his qualification of psc. He was then appointed DADMS 56 (London) Division Territorial Army and from 1960 to 1962 commanded 2 Field Ambulance RAMC in the Middle East. On relinquishing command in July 1962 he was appointed ADMS NEARELF (Cyprus), which appointment he retained until he returned to England in December 1963 for retirement. He retired in 1964 to take up an

Middlesex Hospital in 1916 and after a house ap^iII * pointment joined the Royal Navy as a surgeon lieutenant and served in a destroyer in the Mediterranean. On demobilisation he returned to the Middlesex Hospital as surgical and cancer registrar, taking the FRCS in 1918. The following year he proceeded MS and was appointed house surgeon to St Mark's Hospital, City Road. In 1920 he joined Sir Gordon Gordon-Watson, Mr J P LockhartMummery, and Mr Lionel Norbury on the consultant staff as honorary assistant surgeon and in 1931 became a full honorary surgeon. He also held appointments at the Royal Northern Hospital and at Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton. It was at St Mark's Hospital that he won his international reputation for the treatment of diseases of the rectum and colon. One of his first and most outstanding contributions was the establishment of a cancer follow-up department in 1922, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. It is from the wealth of information obtained from these records that the results of treatment of cancer of the rectum at St Mark's Hospital have been assessed. They have formed the basis of most of the publications on the subject from this hospital. In 1928 he started to develop the perineoabdominal variant of the combined excision of

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the rectum; by 19 June 1952 he had performed his one-thousandth such excision and had seen the mortality rate for the operation drop from 17 8 to 2o". Mr Gabriel made many contributions to the surgical journals. In 1932 the first edition of his Principles and Practice of Rectal Surgery was published, with four subsequent editions, the last being in 1963. He was a large man with an imposing presence and great physical and moral strength. His operating lists were long, sometimes including three combined excisions, and were conducted with a military precision. An austere and unbending manner was the expression of the way he disciplined his own life and the discipline he expected from those who worked with him. He was, and will remain, a legend for his wonderful example in total patient care. No detail of any aspect of his patients' welfare was ever overlooked: he personally supervised each patient's postoperative dressing. He inspired a great devotion and loyalty in generations of assistants who will be for ever grateful for the time, patience, and trouble he took to instruct and help them. They will remember his great kindness, his generosity, and the hospitality at his home at Highgate, where with his wife he took such pleasure in entertaining visiting surgeons from abroad. His wife died in 1957 and he is survived by two daughters and by two sons, both of whom are doctors.-HRT.

J C AINSWORTH-DAVIS MA, MD., FRCS, FRCSED

Mr J C Ainsworth-Davis, emeritus consulting urological surgeon to Lord Mayor Treloar's

Hospital, Alton, died on 3 January. He was 80. KR writes: John Creyghton Ainsworth-Davis was the son of James Richard Ainsworth-Davis, professor of zoology in Wales and later principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. From Westminster School he went for one term in 1914 to Christ's College, Cambridge, before joining up in the first world war and becoming a captain in the Rifle Brigade. He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and became a pilot. After the war he returned to Christ's for an abbreviated period and qualified with the Conjoint diploma at St Bartholomew's in 1923, proceeding MB in 1925 and MD in 1933. He obtained the FRCSEd in 1926 and the English fellowship in 1929. He held appointments at various times at All Saints Hospital for Genito-Urinary Diseases, the Royal Waterloo

Hospital, the Bolingbroke Hospital, Kettering

and District Hospital, and King Edward VII's Hospital for Officers. In the second world war he was in the medical branch of the RAF (commissioned in the RAFVR) with the rank of wing commander and was officer in charge of the Surgical Division, for most of the time at the RAF Hospital, Cosford. His interests were broad and he was vice-president and an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and a member of the executive council. He was a keen Hunterian and served in the office of president of the society. At the Royal Society of Medicine he was secretary of the council, a councillor for a number of years, and a vice-president of the section of urology. He was a founder member of the Association of Urological

Surgeons. His interest in urology developed under the

influence of Canny Ryall and he was a very skilful instrumentalist. He published Essentials of Urology in 1950 and contributed to Maingot's textbook in 1957. Many papers of his were published in the journals. He carried on in practice till well into retirement. He was an athlete of considerable distinction, gaining his colours at Christ's at rugby, football, tennis, and athletics. He won a gold medal in the 400 metres relay in the 1920 Olympics and represented the British Empire v USA in the same year. As a boy he played the violin, and when Sir Adrian Boult brought his orchestra to an RAF station during the war and was told he was going to meet a Wing Commander Ainsworth-Davis he asked, correctly, if this would be the same man who, as a boy, had taken the solo part in Mendelssohn's violin concerto at a Westminster School concert. Sir Adrian remembered the performance as a most distinguished one. At Christ's he was a member of the "Original Christe Minstrels" and during his student days at Barts he led a dance band. He was an enthusiastic ballroom dancer and always had a ready smile. He had a son and two daughters of his first marriage and our sympathy goes to his widow and family.

31 JANUARY 1976

dowed with great dedication and energy, he took the Scottish diploma in 1935 and after several hospital appointments proceeded to the diploma in ophthalmic medicine and surgery. The outbreak of the second world war found him engaged in general practice, replacing colleagues who had been called up to the Forces. Soon afterwards he himself joined the RAMC in the rank of major (ophthalmic specialist) and saw active service in the Middle East. After demobilisation he settled in general practice at Todmorden, where he remained until his retirement in 1969. Thanks to his profound professional knowledge and devotion to his patients he gained the highest esteem from his colleagues and gratitude and affection from his patients. Throughout his medical career he maintained a keen interest in ophthalmology, working as a clinical assistant in the neighbouring clinics, a position he maintained after his retirement. Dr Fisher will be sadly missed by his colleagues and patients. He is survived by his wife Miriam.-ET.

E W GRAHAM MB, CHB, DPH

J GRAY MB, BCH, BAO

Dr J'Gray, a general practitioner working at Kings Norton, Birmingham, died on 27 December. He was 69. Joseph Gray was born at Newtownards, County Down, on 17 December 1906. From the local school he obtained a scholarship which enabled him to attend the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He studied medicine at Queen's University of Belfast and graduated with honours in 1929. He could have had a brilliant hospital career after his student achievements, but his interest in and love of people led him to general practice. After working in the Black Country he did a locum at Kings Norton and there he worked until his death 39 years later.

Dr E W Graham, formerly medical officer of health, Penang, died at Peebles Memorial Hospital on 23 November. He was 73. Eric William Graham was born on 2 March 1902 and educated at George Heriot's School and Edinburgh University, where he graduated in medicine in 1926. After assisting for a year as a general practitioner at Wishaw he served for five years in the Royal Navy. Returning from Hong Kong in 1933, where he had spent most of his naval service, he worked for a year in the sanatorium at Bridge of Weir and then joined the municipal service in Penang, where he became deputy health officer. Returning to Britain in 1937, he took the DPH at Edinburgh and served as MOH East Suffolk until the outbreak of war, when he joined the RAF. He returned to Suffolk after discharge from the RAF, but the call of the East took him back to Penang in 1947 and he served there as MOH until his retirement in 1957. From then until his complete retiral in 1967 he worked at Tone Vale Hospital, Somerset, where his quiet concern and humanity endeared him to his patients. Dr Graham is survived by his wife.-GTG.

Joe was a quiet man, reticent in public, who had the highest of ideals. His infinite patience and tolerance endeared him to all who scught his aid, no matter of what age or social class. He had an intense dislike of deputising services, holding that in a crisis it was a family's right to be treated by someone they knew. His life style was in itself simple and modest, his chief interest outside the family and medicine being the garden W A BALHETCHET and greenhouse. Joseph Gray was a loyal colleague to his partners. He is survived by OBE, LMS his wife Una, and by his son.-JTD. Dr W A Balhetchet, who practised in Singapore, died on 21 August. He was 77. William Archibald Balhetchet was born M K FISHER on 19 May 1898 and qualified at King Edward MD, LRCP&SED, LRFPSGLAS, DOMS VII College of Medicine, Singapore, in 1922. His first appointment was at the General Dr M K Fisher, who was in general practice Hospital, Singapore, at that time a twofor over 20 years at Todmorden, Lancashire, storeyed brick building surrounded by wooden, died in the Royal Halifax Infirmary on 30 pavilion-type buildings and wards. He soon December after a short illness. He was 72. earned a reputation for keenness and ability, Martin Kenneth Fisher was born on 28 and in 1930 spent a year studying surgery in January 1903. He grew up and was educated Edinburgh. On his return he was appointed in Berlin and later qualified from the university surgical specialist. The high quality of his there, proceeding MD in 1933. With the work earned him the distinction of being the onset of the Nazi regime he was forced to leave first locally qualified graduate to be promoted Germany and found refuge in Britain. En- to medical officer, carrying the same status

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as expatriate medical officers recruited in Great Britain. When the Japanese overran Malaya Dr Balhetchet was put in charge of civilian hospital services in Singapore under the Japanese Military Government. He carried out this unenviable task with great distinction, and both the local civilians and those in internment owed much to his firmness and courage in dealing with the intolerance and lack of understanding of his superiors, particularly during the last years of occupation, when supplies of essential drugs were running short. His work was recognised after the war by the appointment of OBE in 1947. He retired from the service in 1950 and after a holiday in England started private practice in Singapore, where his energy, enthusiasm, and ability met with instant success. Although he had to slow down after a major heart attack in the late 'fifties, he was still working parttime until his death. He was much respected for his professional integrity, while his kindness and open hospitality ensured welldeserved popularity with all communities in Singapore as well as with visiting doctors from Great Britain, for whom he always had a special welcome. Dr Balhetchet was a member of the BMA for nearly 50 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters, one of whom after qualifying at St Bartholomew's returned to Singapore to join her father.-DABH.

C GROVES MB, CHB, FRCPED

Dr Charles Groves, formerly consultant physician to the Hull Royal Infirmary, died on 26 December. He was 63. Charles Groves was born on 17 December 1912 and graduated in medicine at Edinburgh in 1937. After house appointments at Edinburgh and the Royal Infirmary, Bradford, he served as a major in the RAMC in North Africa and Italy. After demobilisation he returned to Bradford as a registrar and took the MRCPEd. In 1946 he went to Hull as a whole-time physician at the Western General Hospital. In 1965 he became FRCPEd. He had joined Hull (A) hospital management committee group in 1962 and in 1971 became its vice-chairman. He gave the group administration great support and helped in the rapid development of the hospital services in the city. His knowledge of medicine was wide and his opinion as a general medical consultant constantly in demand. Diabetes was his special interest and many sufferers were grateful for his thoughtful and warmhearted care. Dr Groves is survived by his wife and son.

sadness his steady decline in recent months. great enthusiasm and love for life and a warmth Throughout he was most nobly supported of personality that will be sadly missed by his by the total devotion of his beloved wife. patients and his wide circle of friends. He is survived by his wife Catherine and their three children.-JDB.

K 0 MILNER MD, DPM, FRCPSYCH

Dr K 0 Milner, formerly consultant psychiatrist and physician superintendent of Aston Hall Hospital, Derby, died suddenly on 5 December. He was 66. Kenneth Oswald Milner was born on 26 June 1909 and educated at Wakefield Grammar School and Leeds University, graduating with honours in 1933 and proceeding to the MD of that university in 1939. He was elected a founder fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1971. He served as a medical officer in HM Prison Service at Broadmoor Hospital, and later as deputy medical superintendent at Rampton Hospital, before being appointed physician superintendent at Aston Hall Hospital in 1947. He held the latter appointment until his retirement in October 1975. Ken Milner's death came as a shock to his many friends and colleagues. He was a man of quiet charm and patience with a lively and kindly sense of humour. An admirable raconteur, his reminiscences of his prison service were as entertaining as they were instructive. They also revealed his passionate concern about the many tragedies and injustices he had witnessed. He was convinced that only by early recognition and help could these be prevented, and this prompted a long and dedicated interest in behavioural problems in children and adolescents, a field in which he gained wide recognition and to which he brought a penetrating intellect and unique personal qualities. He will be remembered as a man of unfailing courtesy and sincerity, someone to whom one instinctively turned for help in perplexing problems or personal difficulties. He gained the high esteem and admiration of his colleagues and the great affection of his patients. A widower for many years, he leaves a married daughter and three grandchildren.-SLD.

J BHAGEERUTTY LRCP&SED, LRFPSGLAS

Dr J Bhageerutty, who was in general practice at Norton Canes for 32 years, died on 28 December after a short illness. He was 62. Jadoonanun Bhageerutty was born in Mauritius on 26 February 1913. He went to Britain to study medicine and qualified at Edinburgh in 1941. He went straight into IDI writes: Dr Groves's personal qualities general practice, finally settling at Norton made him very much in demand in local Canes, a small mining village near Cannock medical organisations, and he was a past- Chase in Staffordshire. He was working full president of both the Hull Medical Society time as senior partner in this busy practice and of the East Yorkshire Branch of the BMA. until he was suddenly taken ill just before His natural reserve melted in informal gather- Christmas. He was a member, and latterly ings, where his shrewd grasp of essentials vice-president, of Cannock Medical Society materially helped the conduct of business. and liked to keep up to date with developing He took great interest in the welfare of the medical science by regularly attending refresher nursing and ancillary staff and was a vigorous courses. Dr Bhageerutty visited many parts supporter of the nurses' training school. of the world and loved to return to Mauritius He had a youthful talent for painting and in to see his three brothers and many other later life for photography, and he was a keen relatives there, who were always very dear to golfer. Some 17 years ago he had an episode him. At home his interests included most of serious illness which he surmounted, and sports, particularly cricket and football, and to he resumed a full work load for some 15 years. relax he enjoyed a quiet day's fishing and an His colleagues, who loved him, watched with evening of bridge with his friends. He had a

N L MAXWELL READER MS, FRCS Dr N L Maxwell Reader, formerly in practice at Wimbledon, died on 2 December. He was 90. Norbert Leo Maxwell Reader went from Leeds University to Guy's, qualifying in 1910. During the first world war active service in Mesopotamia and Gallipoli was followed by a period as surgical specialist in India. In 1919 he returned with the rank of major RAMC to take charge of the Northumberland War Hospital. He took his surgical fellowship in 1920 and the mastership in surgery the following year. On discharge from the RAMC he went into general practice at Bromley with surgical attachment to the local hospital until 1925, when he spent two years in Switzerland because of ill health. He was able to take up the appointment of surgeon at Barry Hospital in 1927. There he did an enormous amount of surgery till 1938, when he went to Wimbledon to join a general practice and take up the appointment of surgeon at the Nelson Hospital. Capable and conscientious in his surgery, and with this background of experience, "Nobby" Reader was a splendid example of a GP surgeon. After his retirement from hospital in 1952 he continued in general practice until failing eyesight forced him to retire two years before he died. He is remembered by his patients as a much-loved personal physician. Dr Maxwell Reader is survived by his wife and daughter, and by a son who is in

general practice.-JB.

Sir JOHN BRUCE CBE, TD, MB, CHB, FRCSED, FRSE

GEG writes: In the many tributes justly paid to John Bruce (obituary, 17 January, p 159) one aspect of his contribution to his profession seems to me to have been missing. Through the last 30 years the interface between medicine and government has become increasingly important to the profession, but those who have represented the profession rarely seem to receive recognition of the work they do for it. John was for many years a member of the Joint Consultants Committee and in that committee his was always a moderate, firm, and constructive contribution. He was a member of the Platt Working Party on hospital medical staff, and with the late Dr Rowland Hill we went visiting hospitals together. He was chairman of the group which worked out the proposals for staffing at consultant level of accident and emergency departments. He was always ready to undertake the extra burden of this representative work despite his devotion to his own department of surgery. Seen from the other side of the negotiating table he was a formidable though always courteous opponent. The Health Service and the profession alike owe John Bruce much for this important service to them. Finally, on a more personal note, there has been no British doctor about whom I have so often had friendly inquiries while travelling abroad.

WB Gabriel.

BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 31 JANUARY 1976 287 OBITUARY NOTICES Sir ALEXANDER HADDOW DSC, PHD, MD, FRSE, FRS Sir Alexander Haddow, emeritus professo...
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