Constance ‘Connie’ Ashcroft, who passed away on 30 September 2018, graduated from London University in 1954 and returned to her home in Manchester for postgraduate training at the Royal Infirmary. She remained there in several capacities until she was appointed district pharmaceutical officer for Staffordshire in 1974. Her area was very large, covering three major general hospitals and many smaller units. The whole NHS area subsequently split into three separate health authorities in line with NHS changes. Connie remained as chief pharmaceutical officer for North Staffordshire. Together with her staff, she worked hard to introduce and develop ward and clinical pharmacy across all the hospitals and strongly encouraged training for new developments of her own staff.
In 1982, Connie contributed toward, and became a member of, the College of Pharmacy Practice. She also supported the development of the School of Pharmacy at Keele University. She became a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 1990. She made an active contribution to hospital pharmacy in the West Midlands, as well as enjoying playing golf and bridge.