We are saddened by the news of the death of Colin Pritchard, on 16 January, at the age of 86 years. He was Foundation Professor in Social Work Studies between 1981-98, then Research Professor in Psychiatric Social Work in the School of Medicine between 1998-2001, and subsequently as Emeritus Professor remained an active contributor in research, undergraduate education and postgraduate training for over two decades. He also held the post of Research Professor in Psychiatric Social Work at Bournemouth University, from 2003.
After military service within the RAF, Colin trained in his beloved Yorkshire first as a general nurse, then as a mental health nurse, before completing a Masters degree in Psychiatric Social Work at Bradford University. In 1970, he was appointed Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Leeds, working with Professor Max Hamilton; subsequently becoming Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath in 1976, remaining there until 1980, then moving to Southampton.
His research examined the interplay between individual, family, social and environmental factors in health and illness. He initially focused on mental health problems and suicide but broadened his research activities to include longitudinal studies with disadvantaged children, the victims of violence, and people with cancer diagnoses. In recent years he focused on the incidence of neurological disorders, and outcomes following neurosurgical procedures. Colin made significant and passionate contributions to medical student teaching and the training of psychiatrists, drawing on his lengthy and broad expertise, always being concerned to highlight and address socioeconomic disadvantage and societal injustices, as reflected in his Honorary Life Membership of Hemsworth Miners Institute. His book Suicide – The Ultimate Rejection? (1995) is widely regarded as a classic text on that subject. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, an ardent sports fan, and great raconteur: and will be missed enormously by his family, friends, and colleagues.
