Psychiatric Bulletin (2003) 27: 158. doi: 10.1192/pb.27.4.158
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2003) 27: 158
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Brian Ward
Formerly Medical Superintendent, Winwick Hospital
Emad Salib and
Janet Connah
Born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Brian qualified MB ChB (Manchester) with three
distinctions in his finals. He worked for several Manchester hospitals in his
early years and was then appointed area psychiatrist for the Northern Command
of the armed forces. His career developed further when he became the senior
registrar at the Department of Psychiatry in Leeds and then again with his
appointment as the medical officer for the Leeds Regional Hospital Board
(1960-1964), with responsibility for provision of psychiatric and elderly care
for the Yorkshire area. He was also involved in the planning of Airedale
General Hospital. At 35, he was the youngest ever NHS appointee to the
position of medical superintendent of Winwick Hospital in Cheshire. He was
elected FRCPsych in 1972.
For 25 years, between 1963 and 1987, Dr Brian Ward was the Medical
Superintendent of Winwick Hospital, then the Chairman of Psychiatry in
Warrington, leading the largest mental institution in Europe in the 1960s, 70s
and 80s. Brian masterminded, with a great and rare combination of compassion,
wisdom, vision and leadership, the process of ‘running down’
Winwick asylum, which accommodated over 2000 psychiatric inpatients. By the
time of his retirement, the size of Winwick asylum in Warrington was reduced
by over 50%. This was done with the least possible distress to patients and
carers, to whom he was so devoted. The closure of Winwick Hospital was
finalised, but not without difficulties 10 years after he retired.
Brian was very active in both the Royal Medico-Psychological Association
(RMPA) and the early days of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He was
secretary of the North West Division of the RMPA and later the same division
of the College until 1975. He was secretary of the College Public Policy
Committee from 1983 to 1986. His medical administrative expertise was shown at
a College meeting in 1974, when he presented, together with Julian Leff, a
report on ‘Confidentiality and Medical Records’. His views
continued to be sound, relevant and true.
At home, Brian was a great ‘do-it-yourself’ man and one of his
favourite pastimes was maintaining and overhauling the ‘vintage’
fleet of Triumph Standard cars that he loved. He was immensely practical and
inventive, but his main joy was music. He was an accomplished musician and
began playing saxophone and clarinet at the age of 13. He led and played with
a band at prestigious events country wide. His favourite music was jazz: his
band had a huge repertoire, ranging from the Glenn Miller variety through to
present day hits. Even when his illness prevented him from attending recent
bookings, he continued to write and put together the musical programme for
each event.
Brian died peacefully on 12 October 2002 aged 75, after a long illness that
he endured with courage and dignity. He leaves his wife, Joan, daughter
Barbara and son Richard.
