Abdel Halim Mohammed Abdel Halim Distinguished Physician Before and After Sudan’S Independence
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OBITUARIES For the full versions of articles in this section see bmj.com Abdel Halim Mohammed Abdel Halim Distinguished physician before and after Sudan’s independence Abdel Halim Mohammed Abdel Halim ary groups Hashmab and the Dawn. He was Halim was a brilliant medical diagnostician was born in colonial Sudan and became a regular contributor to Dawn magazine and in the days when investigative procedures the first Sudanese doctor to occupy senior coauthor of a book, entitled Death of a Life. His were rudimentary, and he was an inspirational medical roles at home and abroad. He was groups together with others gave rise to the teacher. His medical ward rounds were a stage a senior physician before and after Sudan Sudan graduates’ congress, of which Halim for rigorous medical teaching, poetry, high gained independence from Great Britain, was a founding member. From the congress flown prose, Sudanese proverbs, and verses and he was the first Sudanese doctor to sprang the main political parties, which led from the Koran. It was all delivered in per- become a member of the movement towards fect English and perfect classical Arabic with the Royal College of Sudanese independ- panache and humour. Physicians, in London, ence. As the first The top of his class, Halim qualified in 1948, and 14 years president of the Sudan from Kitchener School of Medicine, Khar- later its first Sudanese Medical Association, toum, in 1933. Soon after his internship he fellow. He maintained Halim took a leading was appointed a medical tutor. He trained his friendship with his part in drafting the medical students, house officers, and medi- British teachers and col- political memorandum cal registrars from then until well after his leagues long after their that sought autonomy retirement from the ministry of health. retirement to the United from British rule. In 1953 Halim became mayor of Khar- Kingdom, after Sudan’s Doctors were always toum and president of the Sudan Football independence in 1956, in the forefront of move- Association. He was a founding member and and he rarely missed his ments that resisted dic- president of the African Football Association, annual visits to Britain. tatorship and injustice the president of the Sudan Olympic Com- in Sudan. Despite his mittee, head of the medical department of Father of medicine position as a senior civil the International Federation of Association Halim was one of few servant he had an active Football (FIFA), and member of the execu- Sudanese people to role behind the scenes in tive committee of the International Olympic occupy senior posi- fighting the first military Committee and later an honorary lifelong As the first president of the Sudan tions in Sudan during dictatorship of General member. These offices entailed travelling all British rule. He was the Medical Association, Halim took Ibrahim Abboud, and over Africa and the world. first Sudanese person a leading part in drafting the its eventual overthrow Behind a deceptively hard exterior, Halim to become director of political memorandum that sought in 1964. was a modest, caring, and warm hearted Omdurman Hospital, the autonomy from British rule Halim became one man who befriended his students as they second largest hospital in of the members of the became his colleagues. He was a liberal, who Sudan, in 1953. A year later, under British Sudan presidential council, which presided tolerated the youthful misguided behaviour rule, he became the first Sudanese person to over the interim coalition government and of his students and young trainees. And he hold the post of senior physician of the Sudan which conducted one of the few free general enjoyed the spontaneous boisterousness of Medical Service and director of Khartoum elections. Although a political adviser and con- sportsmen as well as the sophisticated erudi- Teaching Hospital. fidante of Al Imam Abdel Rahman Al Mahdi, tion of intellectuals and academics. After Sudan won independence he con- the guardian of the Umma party, Halim dis- Until two years before his death he tinued as a visiting professor at Khartoum tanced himself from partisan politics, gaining retained his remarkable memory and zest University faculty of medicine and was made the respect and confidence of politicians of for life. He endured the last two years of chancellor of the university in 1953. On retire- diverse political affiliations. increasing infirmity and impaired mobility ment in 1964 he continued as a visiting profes- with courage and resolve. sor as well as an honorary senior consultant Inspirational teacher His wife died in 1987. He leaves five sons to his many former trainees, who became the Halim’s diverse achievements were gained and two daughters. mainstay of the medical services in Sudan. He despite chronic pulmonary disease, subsequent Farouk Fadl had earned the title of “father of medicine.” thoracotomy, and the collapse of one lung in Abdel Halim Mohammed Abdel Halim, doctor and In the 1930s Halim was one of the leaders his youth. He was a connoisseur of poetry, statesman (b 1910 Omdurman; q 1933 Khartoum), of the literary and political activities of the music, vocal arts, and Sudanese folklore. died 16 April 2009 from bronchial pneumonia. time and a member of the influential liter- Apart from being a notable intellectual, Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2311 1446 BMJ | 13 JUNE 2009 | VOLUME 338 obituaries for exhibition, he was also a church partnership in Sawtry, where she had Albert Harold Davies warden. Predeceased by a son, he an encyclopaedic knowledge of all leaves a wife, Pat; two children; and her patients. She quickly became the seven grandchildren. senior partner, retiring in 1996. A GP John Toynton trainer and keen teacher of medical Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2281 students, she was also president of the local St John Ambulance and became a magistrate in Peterborough. Peter Forrester She leaves a husband, Brian; three children; and two grandchildren. and St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Ian Williams Surrey, and in Harley Street. He Former medical superintendent Jane Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2312 published several articles in the BMJ Furse Hospital, Sekhukuneland, South and was a registered Law Society Africa (b 1917; q St Andrews 1951; expert witness and a member of the FRCPath), d 16 July 2008. David Hunsley Garrick Club. He was commissioned Albert Harold Davies enlisted at 18 in the Royal Naval Reserve during the in the Royal Army Medical Corps and second world war. An accomplished trained as a laboratory assistant. horseman throughout his life, he On active service with the British Former general practitioner Wimbledon regularly competed in amateur Expeditionary Force from 1939, he (b 1922; q Glasgow 1952), died from cross country and show jumping was evacuated from Calais after the dementia on 26 December 2008. championships, and sponsored fall of France and lost his right eye. On Peter Forrester’s first position was in two of his sons to play polo for Eton demobilisation in 1946 he started Kilmarnock, where he was in practice College. He leaves a wife, Christina, medical training. He was medical for 12 years. He particularly enjoyed and three sons. superintendent in Sekhukuneland his position as a police doctor for the Consultant psychiatrist Cherry Knowle Charles Paton-Philip for 20 years. He set up a blood bank local area. He moved to England with Hospital, Sunderland (b 1945; q Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2292 and histological and diagnostic his wife and eight children, where he Newcastle 1980; BSc, PhD, FRCP), laboratory and started training African became a popular partner in a large died from idiopathic pulmonary technicians, as well as widening group practice, retiring in 1994 at the fibrosis on 7 June 2008. John Francis Webb the training of African nurses. In age of 70. He was an active member David Hunsley qualified in botany in retirement he worked part time in of the Hurlingham Club and Westside 1966 and got his PhD in mycology pathology at Edendale Hospital, Lawn Tennis Club. Predeceased by a in 1971 both from Newcastle. He Pietermaritzburg. He leaves a wife, son, he leaves a wife, Jeanette; seven pioneered enzymatic dissection Grace, and a son. children; and eight grandchildren. at Glasgow and Oxford, where Edith Waldmann Geoff Pollock he was junior fellow at Wolfson Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2277 Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2280 College. Aged 30, David returned to Newcastle to read medicine. After qualifying and jobs in Newcastle he James Russell Dickson Miriam Grace Hackman became consultant in Rosslynlee Former senior physician Royal Army Former consultant surgeon Princess Hospital in Edinburgh in 1988 and Medical Corps, Cambridge Military Elizabeth Hospital, Guernsey in Sunderland in 1990. Active in the Hospital, Aldershot (b 1917; q Durham (b 1922; q Guy’s Hospital, 1946; Royal College of Psychiatrists, he was 1940; MC, MD), d 5 April 2009. FRCS), died from prostate cancer on crucial in rewriting the standard job After house jobs, John Francis Webb 2 January 2009. description for consultant old age (“Jack”) saw active service in North After qualifying, James Russell psychiatrists, so influencing the work Africa and was awarded the Military Dickson (“Jim”) did national service of psychiatrists throughout Britain. He Cross. While posted to Hong Kong, he as a general medical officer in the leaves a wife, June; two sons; and one researched tropical sprue, describing Royal Air Force before specialising. granddaughter. its onset, findings, and successful He became consultant surgeon Former general practitioner, Sawtry, Iain Cameron treatment, and gained his MD. As the in Guernsey in 1956. He rapidly Cambridgeshire (b 1936, q Bristol Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2278 senior physician at the Cambridge increased the range of operations 1962), died from a cerebellar Military Hospital, he was physician performed on the island, tackling haemorrhage on 13 March 2009.