Obituary R. D. GILLESPIE, M.D., F.R.C.P
The death of Dr Gillespie at the early age of 47, has deprived the medical profession of one of its most distinguished members and the whole Mental Health movement is the poorer for his passing. From the outset of his career, Dr Gillespie was interested in psychiatry and soon after graduation he became assistant physician at the Glasgow Royal Mental Hospital under Dr D. K. Henderson with whom he later collaborated in writing the wellknown Text Book of Psychiatry, now in its 6th edition. In 1929, after experience of psychiatric work in Baltimore, U.S.A. and at the Cassel Hospital and of research work in mental pathology in Cambridge, he succeeded Sir Maurice Craig as physician and lecturer in psychological medicine at Guy’s Hospital, whose Child Guidance Clinic owes its inception to his foresight and enthusiasm. Thereafter, as a physician, a writer (one of his most popular books, The Mind in Daily Life was written during this period) and a lecturer, he was in constanl demand, until in 1939 he entered the R.A.F.V.R. ir which he reached the rank of Air Commodore.
In 1941 he went to the United States and delivered in New York the Salmon Lectures on the ” Psychological Effects of War subsequently published in this country, and lectured also in Canada. A serious breakdown in health led to the resignation of his commission in April, 1945, but he was able to resume his work at the York Clinic, Guy’s Hospital, until on October 30th his death from heart exhaustion brought it to an end.
The constituent bodies of the Provisional Council are amongst the many who have been privileged to receive Dr Gillespie’s help. He was for several years Joint Hon. Secretary of the National Council for Mental Hygiene, he had been a member of the Child Guidance Council and of its Medical Committee, and the Social Case-Work Department of the C.A.M.W. was frequently in touch with him about individual patients.
To quote Professor D. K. Henderson, he was ” a great man, a loyal friend, and a psychiatrist whose achievements will always do honour to British medicine
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