When Irvine Delamore joined the University Department of Clinical Haematology at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, he was following in the footsteps of former illustrious Directors John F Wilkinson and Professor Martin Israels. The years 1970 to 1989 were a period of momentous change during which he led both the Department, a tertiary referral centre for leukaemia and allied disorders, and the Regional Haemophilia Centre. This period saw the transformation of haematology into a clinical discipline at the cutting edge of medicine. Irvine was instrumental in initiating the development of the Department as a leading leukaemia and bone marrow transplant unit in the North West of England.
Irvine had arrived from Spalding to study medicine in Edinburgh in 1948, graduating with honours in 1954. Noted as an outstanding prospect, after house posts at the Royal Infirmary, he served as a Surgeon Lieutenant in the RNVR before returning to junior posts with Sir Stanley Davidson and Professor KW Donald. He obtained his MRCP Ed in 1958 and after a year as a research fellow at Yale, he completed his PhD under Professor Donald in 1962 and was elected FRCPE in 1967.
In 1963/4 he spent a year in India as visiting WHO professor of internal medicine at Baroda Medical College before returning to Edinburgh as lecturer in therapeutics with Prof Girdwood. At this time he was involved in early studies of intestinal biopsy and autoimmune diseases, leading to a particular interest in pernicious anaemia and myeloma. He obtained his first consultant appointment as a general physician in Blackburn, Lancashire, in 1966 and then moved to his definitive post in Manchester Royal Infirmary in 1970. In 1974 he was elected FRCPath and in 1982 FRCP London.
His astuteness as a physician, coupled with his administrative flair, made him a natural clinical leader who worked closely with the executive board of the hospital to ensure that the Infirmary was well placed to cope with the ongoing NHS reorganisations of the period. In addition, he chaired or served on many University, College and Society committees, including membership of the Councils of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, and the British Society for Haematology. His considerable contribution to committee work during his long career is well recognised. Irvine commanded respect not only from his colleagues but was also much loved by his patients, who found his gentle bedside manner most reassuring.
Irvine’s clinical and research interests were wide-ranging. He supervised both trainees in haematology and postgraduate students working for their MSc and PhD degrees. In addition to his many publications, he edited/co-edited several books: Haematological Aspects of Systemic Disease (2 editions; 1972,1990), Multiple Myeloma and other Paraprotein Disorders (1986), and Leukaemias (1987). He was notably supportive of his trainees. He was one of the first Consultants to appreciate the need for part time training posts, especially, for women, and was instrumental in introducing these - a scheme in its infancy at that time. Many of his trainees went on to become Consultant Haematologists and created the North West Ladies’ Haematology Group, which as a show of affection and esteem later invited him to become an honorary member. Irvine and his late wife, Rosemary, were known for their generous hospitality when they regularly entertained the trainees, colleagues and friends in their home
Outside work, Irvine had many interests which he was able to pursue during his retirement. He was a pillar of his local community, a lay preacher, a Rotarian and a golfer, apparently improving his handicap after the age of 70. Of all the places he visited one was particularly special to him - Islay in the Western Hebrides. After a locum job on the island in his early career, Irvine and Rosemary decided that they loved the place so much that they converted three walls of a fisherman’s ruin into a small holiday cottage, to this day still known as Dr Delamore’s Cottage.
Above all, Irvine was a devoted family man. He is survived by his daughter Catherine, three grandchildren, and one great granddaughter; his wife and daughter Wendy pre-deceased him. Throughout his professional and personal life, Irvine made many valuable and long-lasting friendships, all the while guided by his deep Christian faith. He is sadly missed.
Prof John Liu Yin