Professor Sir Ivor Batchelor died on 24th April aged 88 years. He graduated MBChB(Ed) in 1940 and served in the war as a psychiatrist (squadron leader) in the RAFVR. After the war he joined the staff of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital under Sir David Henderson, whose broad approach to Psychiatry as a branch of Medicine was a major influence in Sir Ivor’s early career.
In 1956 he became Physician Superintendent of the Dundee Royal Mental Hospital, a position he relinquished to become the first Professor of Psychiatry in Dundee in 1962. His career in Dundee, until his retirement in 1982, was a record of outstanding achievement. As a hospital administrator he laid the foundations of a comprehensive psychiatric service, and as Professor he built up a flourishing Department of Psychiatry. He campaigned for teaching and research facilities in the psychiatric hospitals and fostered the research potentials of both University and NHS staff. He promoted research contributions from clinical psychology; biochemistry and sociology and inspired a survey of psychiatric disorder in a prison population.
Sir Ivor’s reputation for critical judgement led to his serving on numerous committees with a wide range of remits beyond the boundaries of Psychiatry. His achievements were recognised by his election to Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the award of CBE in 1976, and when he was knighted in 1981. He will be remembered as a man of rigorous integrity, sharp wit, a source of wise counsel, and as a loyal and stimulating friend.
Contributed by Peter Aungle