Tribute to Maurice Peston

Maurice Peston was a brilliant man and pharmacy is fortunate that he shared his talents with us.

A renowned economist, Maurice was a member of the Nuffield Inquiry team and subsequently of the (then) Pharmaceutical Society’s Council. His contribution to Nuffield has been well documented by John Ferguson, however his contributions to the council were less visible but no less important. I was lucky to sit next to Maurice at the council table for several years. His intellect was prodigious, his analysis penetrating and he pierced many a debate with his forensic deconstruction of arguments for and against.

We worked together on the Working Party, which resulted in the introduction of social and behavioural sciences into the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum, areas now taken for granted but highly controversial at the time.

Maurice was an incredibly kind mentor to me and helped me to hone my skills in analysing and debating policy. He was also great fun, with a dry and often mischievous sense of humour, and a master of the sotto voce aside during meetings — the pair of us sometimes had to stifle our giggles by studiously avoiding looking at each other.

He was both a critical friend and champion of pharmacy and is greatly missed.