Obituary - Basil L Andrew

Basil L Andrew, Reader in Physiology at the University of Dundee died on 21 July aged 81 writes Nicholas Part.

With the death of Basil Andrew, Dundee University has lost someone who contributed to the widest range of its activities. Having taken a BSc in physiology at King's College, he took a position in the department of physiology and biochemistry in 1939 at University College Dundee. With the outbreak of war his practical abilities were used by the war effort in the development of radar. On his return to Dundee in 1945, the electronic experience he gained was put to good use in the neurophysiology laboratory that he established in the Medical School. At this time of shortage, building up a laboratory was a formidable undertaking.

Apparatus had to be built from war surplus and an AC electrical supply generated from the DC supply still in operation in central Dundee for the sake of the trams. Basil Andrew overcame these problems and went on to make important contributions to knowledge in a number of fields including joint position sense, arterial baroreceptors and water taste in the frog. He was registered for a PhD whilst undertaking this work but never submitted a thesis. However, this was unnecessary as London University awarded him a DSc in 1957 in recognition of his established position as an independent research worker. Later in his career he was much involved with work on the muscle spindle, the length sense organ of muscle and organised a successful international symposium in Dundee on this topic.

It is not just for his research that Basil Andrew will be remembered by colleagues but also his many other contributions to university life. In teaching he developed single handed the honours physiology school. Many generations of students are grateful for the attention and care that he put into this course. Often some complicated point of physiology would be made quite clear with 'let us draw a diagram of this'. He also gave serious attention to the needs of medical students and was much involved in the re-organisation of the medical course in the 1970s. Despite the demands of this teaching and research, he was able to generate a most stimulating social aura. On the formal side he was president of the university staff club and more informally he was the originator of many departmental social occasions. In recognition of these efforts, which often seemed to fall at the equinox and solstice, the departmental secretary presented him with an embroidered druid emblem. New members of staff in physiology and other departments would often receive an unexpected telephone call and shortly after find themselves enjoying great hospitality in Basil and Doreen's house.

His family was always very important to Basil Andrew and he leaves behind his wife Doreen, children Michael and Pauline and grandchildren Shelley and Jamie. He will be greatly missed by them and all of us.

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