It is with sadness and regret that we were made aware of the death of Professor Alexander Stewart (Sandy) McNeish, a colleague and former Director of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre (CSC). Sandy was born in Glasgow in 1938 and qualified in Medicine in 1961. He moved to Birmingham in 1970 as a Senior Clinical Lecturer and six years later became the first Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Leicester. Returning to Birmingham in 1980 as the Leonard Parsons Professor of Paediatrics, McNeish was then appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1986-1992). He was seconded to lead the CSC (1994 -1996), before becoming Warden of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL until 2001.

Sandy died suddenly on 2nd August 2021 aged 83. He was husband of 58 years to Joan, father of Alistair, Iain and the late Fiona, and grandfather to Freya, Sabina, Angus and Iona. He will be fondly remembered by many of us at the LMS as someone who loved great science, promoted clinical sciences in all its different guises, and helped navigate the Institute through uncertain times with characteristic wit, skill and good humour. While leading the CSC I remember enquiring how he was enjoying the role.

He replied, with gusto “it’s the best job in the world”.

Written by Professor Dame Amanda Fisher, Head of the Institute of Clinical Sciences.