Psychiatric Bulletin (2007) 31: 400. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.107.017467
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
John Edward Barclay
Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist, Winwick Hospital, Warrington and Ormskirk General Hospital, Lancs.
Emad Salib
John Edward Barclay was born in 1929. During his childhood years he
developed an enduring love of the outdoors, particularly walking and cycling.
As he got older his passions extended to rock climbing, skiing, fell walking,
opera and jazz. In 1947 John was called up for National Service, serving with
the Household Cavalry in Germany. He represented the Royal Horse Guards’
(the Blues’) fencing team and later captained Liverpool University
fencing team, where he became four times winner of the Alyward Sword of
Honour. He also represented Lancashire and Cheshire Fencing Union and the
North of England at foil. In 1952 he won the fencing event at the Winter
Pentathlon in Bad Gestein, Austria. Then, while in the army, John also
represented the Blues at rifleshooting at Bisley and was awarded the Bronze
Cross of the Army Rifle Association. During this time he honed his skiing
skills, representing first the Army and breaking the British 50 km
cross-country skiing record that he went on to hold for 7 years, then being
selected for the British Olympic Ski Team at the 1956 Winter Olympics in
Cortina, Italy.
The following year he took up a position as house surgeon at St Helens
Hospital, going on to obstetrics and gynaecology at Ormskirk Hospital where he
met Claire, who was also a junior doctor. They married in 1957. John
contracted tuberculosis and was in bed for 3 months, with a further 7 months
off work. In 1964 he became consultant psychiatrist at Winwick Hospital,
Warrington and Ormskirk General Hospital, Lancs.
John was a gentleman, modest, kind and generous, with a calm and considered
approach, but was tenacious when required. He had a wonderfully dry wit, even
up to the end. During a severe winter and much to his children’s
embarrassment, unable to get to his outpatients’ clinic owing to heavy
snow, John donned his skis and trusty balaclava and went cross country to the
hospital, receiving applause from students at Edge Hill College as he passed
by. He left his skis and sticks in his reserved parking space! He was a
dedicated and conscientious psychiatrist, highly regarded by colleagues and
loved by his patients. He retired in 1988.
John, a committed Christian with deep religious beliefs, was never afraid
of dying and looked forward to what he referred to as ‘The Last Great
Adventure’. He bore his long illness with typical stoicism, never
complaining, always aware of those worse off than himself. John suffered from
Lewy body disease for over 6 years, but enjoyed periods of lucidity until he
died on 5 June 2007. He leaves a wife, Claire, seven children and 14
grandchildren.
