Alexander Davidson

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Biography

A P D THOMSON MBE, BSC, MB, CHB

Emeritus Professor "Sandy" Thomson, formerly executive dean and senior tutor in the faculty of medecine, University of Birmingham, died suddenly on 3 April. He was 63. Alexander Patrick Davidson Thomson graduated in medecine from the University of Glasgow in 1939 and during the second world war served as a major in the RAMC, being appointed MBE in recognition of his sterling contribution. While in the Army, he became associated with Lord Zuckerman and early after the war joined his department of anatomy in the University of Birmingham as a lecturer. It was a very large and successful department, and Sandy was responsible for its administration. His great ability, tact, and charm and his scrupulous and conscientious approach to his work led to his appointment as assistant dean of the faculty. When the University of Birmingham established the new medical school at Salisbury, Rhodesia, Sandy went there as professor of basic sciences and before long was dean of the faculty and deputy principal of the university. The magnificent success of the new medical school was in large measure due to his work and his superb personal qualities, and when it was so happily sondly established he returned to the University of Birmingham as executive dean and senior tutor in the faculty of medecine. His selfless contribution to the university, to its medical and dental students, and to the profession continued, and he took an increasing interest in the national aspects of medical education, becoming secretary of the provincial medical deans. When he was nearly 60 he had a myocardial infarct, from which he made good recovery, but wisely retired from his demanding university appointment. He continued his association with the medical school as a part-time research worker in the Cancer Registry and his death from cardiac arrest came when he was happily having morning coffee with his friend Bob Curran, the professor of pathology, and members of his department. Sandy was a humble, gentle, unambitious, ever kind, and helpful man whose great services never received the recognition they deserved. He is servived by his wife and two daughters.-AGWW.

Sources

• British Medical Journal, 4 August 1979

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