Professor Brian Prichard, Chairman of Richmond Pharmacology's Scientific Advisory Board and non-executive Board Director died on 6 April 2010 at St George's Hospital in Tooting.  He was 77 years old.

Brian Prichard qualified in medicine at St. George's University of London in 1957, having previously graduated BSc in Physiology and Masters in Pharmacology. After various posts in Medicine and Pharmacology he was appointed Consultant Physician at University College Hospital in 1973 and Professor of Clinical Pharmacology in 1980.

His research was in the field of cardiovascular drugs with particular emphasis on the treatment of hypertension. As a collaborator of Professor Sir James Black he spearheaded the clinical development of the beta-receptor antagonists and crusaded on their behalf - as well as revolutionising their use by his discovery of their antihypertensive effect. Professor Prichard's major publication work was the book  'Beta Blockers in Clinical Practice' with Dr J.M. Cruickshank, a second edition published in 1994.

Professor Prichard was involved in various societies.  He was the foundation secretary of the clinical section of the British Pharmacological Society, a founder member of the Conservative Medical Society, past President of the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, Chairman of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, Governor for the Ashcroft Technology Academy as a Local Education Authority representative and a member of Trinity Road Chapel in Wandsworth where he had served as a deacon.

Professor Prichard was awarded a CBE in recognition of his service in 1996.

Brian Prichard followed a long established family tradition of Prichards who served as councillors and Mayors on Battersea Council, Wandsworth Council, the London County Council and the Greater London Council.  He had been a councillor in Wandsworth for more than 40 years when he became the Mayor of Wandsworth in May 2009.  

We first met Professor Prichard when he was introduced by Professor Sir Colin Dollery in 1996 in the role of a mentor when we were junior doctors.  Over the years he met with us regularly, often once weekly, advising us on all our clinical trials.  He became our teacher and Educational Supervisor whilst working towards our specialist accreditation in Pharmaceutical Medicine. He gave us invaluable guidance and made an enormous contribution to our training and development and without him we would not be where we are today. He became the Chairman of Richmond Pharmacology's Scientific Advisory Board and a board director in 2002.

We got to know Professor Prichard as a dedicated clinical pharmacologist and inspiring teacher who fulfilled his responsibilities with great care and diligence.  He contributed to our overall direction with his balanced and cautious approach and most of all with his integrity and trustworthiness.  Professor Prichard gave the impression of a very disciplined and even frugal man with uncompromising views on study designs and the harmful effects of alcohol in general and the correct reading and interpretation of blood pressures in particular. He was a strong advocate of doing things properly and cutting corners would never have done.

Despite being a very private person over time we became acquainted with his subtle sense of humour, his interest in discussion and exchange of opinions, his tolerance, his broad knowledge of many topics, his ability to enjoy small things, his modesty despite all his achievements, his patience and persistence with us as trainees and his great kindness towards people he was dealing with. Meeting him was special and throughout our longstanding relationship we always looked forward to seeing him.

We are very grateful to Professor Prichard for sharing his knowledge and enjoyment of clinical pharmacology with us, his kindness towards us, and for being our mentor supporting and accompanying us over a very long period of our careers. We will greatly miss him and always remember him with deepest respect and affection.

For and on behalf of the Board