Tribute to Norman Harris

Norman Harris researched and taught at Chelsea College Department of Pharmacy in numerous areas, including pharmaceutics, microbiology and radiopharmacy, before it was merged with King’s College London. However, I believe his greatest contribution to pharmacy teaching was in the 1970s, when he and Bill Burt pioneered clinical pharmacy teaching as a core final year module. This module integrated pathology, therapeutics and ward-based bedside case presentation with real patients and was one of the first in the UK. After retirement he ran popular, continuing education courses for practising pharmacists, again ahead of most others.

Norman was first my senior and mentor, later my colleague and co-author, and finally my friend. He taught me a respect for consistency, clarity and uncompromising accuracy. Norman would not tolerate the shoddy. His punctilious corrections to my drafts, which I always assumed were flawless, were almost invariably wise improvements. He was a shy man and as result could at times seem distant and a little daunting, especially to students. However, he was always helpful, utterly reliable and supportive, to both colleagues and students. The pharmacy world was richer for the presence of someone who was a genuine scholar.