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OBITUARY
D RUSSELL DAVIS
MD, FRCP, FRCPSYCH
N.=\
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D iRusseu Davts
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As a young psychiatrist working in the Medical
Research Council's Unit of Applied Psychology in
Cambridge Derek Russell Davis conducted what
were to become famous as the "Cambridge cockpit
experiments." He showed that the performance of
people engaged in skilled tasks can become disorganised
by what he called anxiety or anticipatory tension but
would nowadays be called stress. He showed that the
disorganisation of behaviour observed among pilots in
wartime was not just due to fear of death or mutilation,
as was generally assumed (and used as evidence of a
"lack of moral fibre"); it was more probably due to
these highly motivated people being afraid of failing to
accomplish the task that had been set them.
His original papers are as relevant today as when
they were published over 45 years ago. Although
Derek was a pioneer of work on errors by pilots and
fatigue in general, he is not properly recognised as
such. One reason for this is that he did not stay with the
subject after the war. For a while he studied the errors
made by train drivers, and then he applied his insights
more to clinical work. He stood out among psychiatrists
of his time in emphasising that people can break down
when caught in family and other relationships in
which any consistent functioning is impossible. His
"adaptational" model of mental disorder stood in
contrast to the biological influence of the Maudsley
school on one hand and the psychoanalytic schools on
the other.
On being appointed to the first chair in mental health
at Bristol University in 1962 he established the first
substantial course in behavioural science (90 hours) in
any British medical school. A controversial innovation,
it introduced medical students on the first day of their
medical studies to teaching on human development
and social relationships.
Derek Russell Davis also brought psychiatry into
general hospitals, opening an inpatient unit in the
main block of Bristol Royal Infirmary-an equally
controversial development-and setting up a clinic at
Bristol Children's Hospital; he became especially
interested in disorders of growth and intellectual
development. His teaching was always lively because
of his light touch and the lucidity of his thinking.
He never adopted an extreme ideological position
concerning the origins of mental disorder, as did many
people in the 1960s, and would listen to any explanatory
model provided one could sustain one's position.
He valued-indeed, demanded-simple and
direct expression. The circumlocutions and vague
conceptualisations so common in psychiatry and
psychology always drew his fire, and he showed to all
those who worked for him or read his publications that
mental processes could be described with simplicity.
He produced a steady stream of papers on clinical
topics as well as successive editions of his textbook An
Introduction to Psychopathology.
He had an abiding interest in the theatre, notably
in the plays by Ibsen and Shakespeare. He would
elucidate the psychological processes in the plays,
especially those of Ibsen, in a way that was not only
clinically enriching but also enhanced one's under-
standing of the play itself. He drew these insights
together in his last book, Scenes from Madness: a
Psychiatnist at the Theatre (1991).
For most of his adult life he suffered from ankylosing
spondylitis and poor sight in one eye. His energy and
enthusiasm for his work were impressive for anyone
completely fit: for someone labouring under constant
physical difficulties it was remarkable. His activity
continued undiminished after his retirement. In the
last year of his life he lost most of the sight in his good
eye, so he continued his work with the aid of an
electronic magnifying device.
He is survived by his wife, Marit, and by a son and a
daughter.-GLIN BENNET
Derek RusseUl Davis, the Norah Cooke-Hurle professor of mental
health at Bristol University and honorary consultant psychiatrist
to the united Bristol hospitals 1962-79, died 3 February. Born
20 April 1914; educated Stowe School and Clare College,
Cambridge, and Middlesex Hospital Medical School (BA 1935;
MB, BChir 1939). Became member of scientific staff of Medical
Research Council 1940. Honorary psychiatrist to united
Cambridge hospitals 1948-62; reader in dinical psychology,
Cambridge University, 1950-8; director of medical psychology
laboratory and reader in medical psychology 1958-62.
G 0 MORSE
BSC, AFOM
Gilbert Morse started his career as a research chemist
and at one time worked for Nestle. But this work did
not satisfy his inquiring mind and he turned to
medicine. After a few years he became a full time
medical officer to the Shipping Federation, first at
King George V Dock in London and then at the office
in Southampton. After retirement he continued with
regular locum commitments until a few weeks before
his death.
Although most of his working life was spent in
industrial medicine, he had an extensive medical
interest and kept up to date in most disciplines. He was
a good diagnostician: the more obscure and rare the
syndrome the better. To work with him was not only
instructive but fun.
His intellectual tastes were catholic both in religion
and in secular matters. An accomplished pianist,
he was a member of the Liszt Society and once
set questions on Liszt for Mastermind. He enjoyed
painting, particularly capturing the Greek islands in
watercolours. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and
two sons and two daughters.-D A ELLERTON
Gilbert Owen Morse, medical officer to the Shipping Federation
until 1980, died 22 November aged 76. Gained BSc at Imperial
College, London, then worked as research chemist. Studied
medicine at St George's Hospital (MRCS, LRCP 1946; MB,
BS 1959). General practitioner in West Hartlepool.
F M M SHATTOCK
FFPHM, MRCGP, MPH, DTPH
Frank Shattock joined the Liverpool School of Tropical
Medicine after spending more than a decade in developing countries and so took with him a wealth of
practical knowledge and wisdom. He went there at an
opportune moment when the department of tropical
community health, having supplanted tropical hygiene,
was once more engaged in formulating interdisciplinary courses in health care in developing countries.
Frank was responsible for fleshing out the skeletons of
four postgraduate courses, incorporating modem
concepts of community care.
He proved to be an outstanding lecturer and tutor
both formally in the school and overseas, leading an
interdisciplinary team of students annually on their
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applied research exercises. His preparation of teaching
material was meticulous, and this combined with his
ready wit and spontaneous quips made him eminently
popular. During his tenure at the Liverpool school he
undertook many overseas consultancies and visiting
lectureships and took a full and vigorous role in
academic administration.
During his career he wrote five books and contributed chapters to several others. His study of the
epidemiology of Qatar and a collaborative study of
epidemiology in primary care (mostly for students)
were particularly valuable for students working in
developing countries.
Frank retired to Spain on completing his assignment
as professor of community medicine in Lusaka.
Lusaka was perhaps a fitting place for him to end his
career for during his previous appointment in Zambia
he had contributed so much to its primary care-not
only had he reorganised the maternal and child health
services throughout the country but he had helped
set up services for preventive medicine. Despite a
medically troublesome retirement he retained his
appetite for keeping abreast of his specialty. He is
survived by his wife, Julie, and by a daughter and two
sons.-N R E FENDALL
graduating in 1945. He then served with the Royal Air
Force, predominantly in the Middle East. On his
return to Britain he worked as medical officer at the
Atomic Energy Authority near Preston before spending
27 years in general practice; he retired in 1981. The
practice appreciated his dedication and thoroughness
and enjoyed his humour. Trevor was multitalented and
an excellent orator. He derived most pleasure from
good conversation, literature, opera, photography,
and gardening. He married Jean in 1951 and they had
three children, Gareth, Helen, and Nerys. In August
1991 he underwent major surgery for cancer, but he
died of cardiac myopathy.-J P CARRI
Angela Maria Sophia Antonia Ofenheim, FFARCS, formerly senior consultant anaesthetist to the Lewisham
group of hospitals in south London, died on 6 December aged 87. Born in Bexleyheath, she qualified
MRCS, LRCP in 1931 at King's College, London,
where her father was a consultant surgeon. Her first
consultant appointment was to Dreadnought Seamen's
Hospital in Greenwich. While still working as an
anaesthetist she bought a farm in Sussex, where she
moved some years before her retirement. She was a
major benefactor of many charities. Her hobbies were
Francis Mario Mackenzie Shattock, senior lecturer in the threefold-music, opera, and shooting. She was a
departnent of tropical community health at the Liverpool School competent violinist, and her musical knowledge was
of Tropical Medicine 1973-82 and head of the department profound and wide ranging. An extremely able shot,
1982-4, died 2 December. Born London, 22 June 1922; educated she took a keen interest in improving the shooting on
Beaumont College, Windsor. Served in Royal Air Force 1942-4. her farm. When very young she had employed George
Studied medicine at St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School Adamson as a "white hunter" in Kenya, and he
(MRCS, LRCP 1949; MB, BS 1952). Became surgeon and remained a lifelong friend. She used to visit him every
physician in charge of a hospital in Sumatra and then in Uganda. year at.his lion reserve in Kenya, and she knew each of
Worked for Save the Children Fund in South Korea, then as his lions by name.-M J EMSuE
maternal and child health specialist in Ministry of Health,
Zambia, before being appointed in Liverpool in 1973. Associate
professor of family and community medicine at King Faisal
University, Saudi Arabia, 1984-7. Professor of community
medicine at University of Zambia 1987-9.
Gelda Mary Bernadette Smith, MRCGP, a general
practitioner in Horsham, died on 9 November. Born
in Cambridge on 11 September 1952, she studied
medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, and University
College Hospital Medical School (BChir 1976, MB
W J CARTER
1977). She was a medical officer with the Royal Army
FRCGP, DRCOG
Medical Corps from 1977 to 1982. Gelda was born into
a military family and so had a peripatetic childhood;
Bill Carter counted himself fortunate to be a country her happy experiences in the Far East probably gave
general practitioner. His open manner allowed his rise to her great love of long haul travel in adult life. In
patients to unburden themselves, and he had a addition, her interest in animals took her on safari
thoughtful approach. He was a trainer for 10 years several times. Other interests included music-she
from 1980. A member of the Tamar faculty board of played the piano when young and more recently took
the Royal College of General Practitioners from 1980, up the guitar-and scuba diving. She had a great sense
he represented the faculty on the college's council from of humour, combined with practical kindness and
1982 to 1987. He also represented the college on the sensitivity. Recently she had been working in a weight
European Union of General Practitioners while the reduction clinic, but she was enthusiastic about the
challenge of opening national boundaries in Europe prospect of starting work in a new general practice. She
was a major concern.
is survived by her father, her brother, and her husband,
As a student Bill had enjoyed mountaineering; when Simon.-juLiANuEssop
he met Amalia, whom he married, he was persuaded to
forsake the rock face for the ski slope. He also became
an accomplished wood carver, completing a major Brian Hunt Vawdrey, MD, MVRCPSYCH, formerly a
project each winter; the wood came from the two and a consultant psychiatrist at Graylingwell Hospital,
half acres of trees that he had planted. Fluent in Chichester, where he was instrumental in setting up
German, he attended meetings of the Anglo-German the alcoholic unit, died on 1 September. Born in 1918,
-Medical Society for 15 years. His final illness, car- he was educated at Tonbridge School and Pembroke
cinoma of the prostate, was diagnosed soon after his College, Cambridge, and St Thomas's Hospital. After
retirement, He and Amalia had two children, Julia and graduating MB, BChir in 1944 he entered the Royal
Army Medical Corps and served in Malaya, India, and
Jason.-BOB GRUNDY
Burma, becoming a major. After the war he worked in
William Jeffry Carter, a general practitioner in Perranporth, private practice for six years in Balcombe, Sussex,
CornwaUl, 1960-92, died 23 December. Studied medicine at before training in psychiatry. He was appointed
a registrar at Graylingwell Hospital in 1954 and
Liverpool University (MB, ChB 1955).
consultant in 1963 and retired in 1983. He was keen on
nature, and his hobbies were chess, gardening, fishing,
John Trevor Wynne Jones, MB, CHB, formerly a philately, and palaeontology. He was an excellent all
general practitioner in Caergwrie, Clwyd, died on round sportsman, particularly enjoying cricket and
14 November. Born in IUantwit Major on 14 December golf. I (his wife) and five children survive him.-ETmF.L
1921, he studied medicine at Liverpool University, VAWDREY
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