On 10 January 2025, Michael John Valentine FPharmS, aged 73 years, of Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire. Mr Valentine registered with the Society in 1973 and was made a RPS Fellow in 2019.
Tribute
Micheal (known to everyone as Mike) was born in Thurnscoe, deep in the South Yorkshire coalfields in 1951. He studied for his BPharm degree at Bradford University between 1969 and 1972 and completed his preregistration training year with Boots Chemists in Sheffield, culminating with his registration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in 1973. He became a pharmacist branch manager for National Cooperative Chemists in Woodlands, Doncaster later in 1973, where he would go on to spend the rest of his community pharmacy career. While at National Cooperative Chemists, he also became secretary of the Doncaster Local Pharmaceutical Committee.
Mike had to take a backseat from front-line pharmacy work in the early 1990s, owing to ill health, but that didn’t stop him from tirelessly working with and supporting people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), including setting up the Doncaster Leger ME group, supporting unpaid carers, being an organist at Tickhill Road Hospital Chapel — including being the organist at me and my wife’s wedding in 2016 — as well as several pharmacy positions including PR officer and secretary of the then Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) Doncaster branch, secretary of the RPS South Yorkshire local practice forums and latterly, secretary of South Yorkshire and South Humber Pharmacy Association. In this time, working for the then RPSGB and RPS locally, Mike was involved in organising more than 200 events. His dedication and service to the profession of pharmacy was recognised when he was made a RPS Fellow in 2019.
But, as well as being a RPS Fellow Committee member, Mike was a great friend, confidant and mentor. Many of the scenarios and situations that I had encountered both personally and professionally, Mike had dealt with, and in his own no-nonsense and can-do spirit, would always proffer sound advice that would be invaluable in giving me a new perspective on how to deal with them.
More recently, in early December 2024, unfortunately, Mike fell ill and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away in Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Below are some quotes from colleagues following Mike’s passing:
“Mike was a true stalwart and dedicated pharmacy professional”.
“He has made a difference in so many lives”.
“He will be very much missed. He was alongside with yourself [referring to me], one of the first pharmacists I met in the UK all the way in 2008. I have always appreciated training evenings organised by Mike”.
“Mike was a great man and will be missed greatly”.
“Mike was the only constant in an ever-changing pharmacy landscape as far back as I can remember”.
His funeral took place at 11.30am on Thursday 6 February 2025 at Tickhill Road Hospital chapel, Doncaster and was followed by a short committal service at Memoria Crematorium, Barnby Dun, Doncaster. He is survived by his partner, Carolyn, and their little dog, Milo.
Richard Daniszewski, friend and former RPSGB/RPS Committee member colleague MPharm FRPharmS IP