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Dr. Alastair C. Frazer
DR. A. C. FRAZER
Obituary Dr. Alastair C. Frazer Dr. A. C. Frazer, C.B.E., M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., President of the British Industrial Biological Research Association and a member of the Editorial Board of Food and Cosmetics Toxicology since its inception, died suddenly on 14 June 1969. The Chairman of BIBRA, Dr. D. W. Kent-Jones, writes: The news that Alastair Frazer, who still seemed to be his cheery self, full of energy, wit and charm, was dead came as such a shock that at first it could scarcely be credited. The day before his death there seemed no indication of ill health, and a day or two earlier he had given one of his outstanding lectures on nutrition and toxicology which pleased and indeed, as usual, fascinated his audience. Alastair Campbell Frazer was born in 1909, was educated at Lancing College and received his medical training at St. Mary's Hospital, London, where he continued from 1929 to 1942 as lecturer in physiology and pharmacology and from time to time as acting professor. In 1942 he went to Birmingham University Medical School and soon became Professor of Pharmacology and eventually of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology. His early interest concerned fat absorption, but he soon turned to what became his main interest, namely nutrition and toxicology. By brilliant and hard work, he built up in Birmingham a school of international reputation, and he acted as adviser to many organizations and certain individual food firms. The positions and appointments he held were amazing. Amongst others he was Honorary Consultant in Metabolic Diseases to the British Army, Adviser on Sprue etc. to the American Armed Forces, Chairman of the Food Section of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, President of the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and also of the British Industrial Biological Research Association, Chairman of the Food Research Committee, a member of the Agricultural Research Council, Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and an active member of the Joint F A O / W H O Expert Committee on Food Additives. He won many awards including an entirely chemical one, the Bernard Dyer Memorial Medal. In 1967 he relinquished his Chair at Birmingham University to take up the position of Director-General of the recently formed British Nutrition Foundation, and only a short time before his death he had extended his responsibilities by being appointed to succeed Sir Derrick Dunlop as Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Drugs. His knowledge and authority in so many matters were unchallenged. He had travelled widely and was greatly respected in the United States and Europe, and indeed the world over. What was even more notable was his engaging personality. Striking in appearance, it was a special pleasure to meet him socially or to sit and discuss problems with him in meetings and committees. His energy was outstanding and this, combined with his persuasive charm and his diplomatic but firm approach to difficult matters, rendered him one 285
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of the greatest personalities one could meet. One could not but respect his wise advice and his common-sense views. Not the least of his attractions were his knowledge and appreciation of good food and wine. The world is certainly poorer for his passing and many think that we shall never see his like again. He left a widow, Hilary, who was always a delightful hostess, three sons and a daughter. For those of us who had the good fortune to work closely with Alastair Frazer, his memory will never fade.
Obituary Dr. Alastair C. Frazer Dr. A. C. Frazer, C.B.E., M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., President of the British Industrial Biological Research Association and a member of the Editorial Board of Food and Cosmetics Toxicology since its inception, died suddenly on 14 June 1969. The Chairman of BIBRA, Dr. D. W. Kent-Jones, writes: The news that Alastair Frazer, who still seemed to be his cheery self, full of energy, wit and charm, was dead came as such a shock that at first it could scarcely be credited. The day before his death there seemed no indication of ill health, and a day or two earlier he had given one of his outstanding lectures on nutrition and toxicology which pleased and indeed, as usual, fascinated his audience. Alastair Campbell Frazer was born in 1909, was educated at Lancing College and received his medical training at St. Mary's Hospital, London, where he continued from 1929 to 1942 as lecturer in physiology and pharmacology and from time to time as acting professor. In 1942 he went to Birmingham University Medical School and soon became Professor of Pharmacology and eventually of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology. His early interest concerned fat absorption, but he soon turned to what became his main interest, namely nutrition and toxicology. By brilliant and hard work, he built up in Birmingham a school of international reputation, and he acted as adviser to many organizations and certain individual food firms. The positions and appointments he held were amazing. Amongst others he was Honorary Consultant in Metabolic Diseases to the British Army, Adviser on Sprue etc. to the American Armed Forces, Chairman of the Food Section of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, President of the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and also of the British Industrial Biological Research Association, Chairman of the Food Research Committee, a member of the Agricultural Research Council, Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and an active member of the Joint F A O / W H O Expert Committee on Food Additives. He won many awards including an entirely chemical one, the Bernard Dyer Memorial Medal. In 1967 he relinquished his Chair at Birmingham University to take up the position of Director-General of the recently formed British Nutrition Foundation, and only a short time before his death he had extended his responsibilities by being appointed to succeed Sir Derrick Dunlop as Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Drugs. His knowledge and authority in so many matters were unchallenged. He had travelled widely and was greatly respected in the United States and Europe, and indeed the world over. What was even more notable was his engaging personality. Striking in appearance, it was a special pleasure to meet him socially or to sit and discuss problems with him in meetings and committees. His energy was outstanding and this, combined with his persuasive charm and his diplomatic but firm approach to difficult matters, rendered him one 285
286
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of the greatest personalities one could meet. One could not but respect his wise advice and his common-sense views. Not the least of his attractions were his knowledge and appreciation of good food and wine. The world is certainly poorer for his passing and many think that we shall never see his like again. He left a widow, Hilary, who was always a delightful hostess, three sons and a daughter. For those of us who had the good fortune to work closely with Alastair Frazer, his memory will never fade.