Thomas Millar Pollock
BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7431.112-e (Published 09 January 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:112Data supplement
- Thomas Millar Pollock
Former director epidemiological research laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale (b China 1918; q Glasgow 1942; FFCM, FRCP), died from vascular dementia on 12 August 2003.After demobilisation from the Royal Army Medical Corps and a house physician post at the Hammersmith, Tom Pollock worked for three years as the tuberculosis registrar at the Hounslow chest clinic. This stimulated his lifelong interest in communicable diseases and led to him joining the scientific staff of the tuberculosis research unit of the Medical Research Council at Holly Hill in Hampstead. With the successful launch of the BCG vaccine Tom moved to the Wellcome Foundation, where he worked for four years on the development of passive vaccination against hepatitis A. In 1964 he joined the Central Public Health Laboratory Service in Colindale as director of the epidemiological research laboratory. Over nearly 20 years this lively and active unit contributed greatly to the understanding of the control of communicable diseases by vaccination, its leadership being marked by intellectual rigour and honesty, enthusiasm, and modesty.
These attributes stood him in good stead after his retirement in 1983, when his work on disorders attributed to vaccination became a key plank in the defence of the whooping cough vaccine. He was able to defend his work in the High Court against eminent clinicians with a good humoured candour that did much to win the case and safeguard the use of this vaccine for the benefit of countless children.
He brought the same attributes to the council of the Chest and Heart Association, where his formidable intellectual skills in committee were accompanied by a kindly and generous manner. He served the association for more than 30 years, 15 of them in retirement and latterly playing a considerable part in helping to refocus its aims on cerebrovascular disease to become the modern Stroke Association.
He maintained his lifelong passions for gardening, fishing, and history through a retirement much happier than he had feared, and after the loss of his wife, Molly, whom he nursed devotedly in the months before her death in 1996, he recovered to an Indian summer of travel, extended family, and close friends. His sociability and good humour never deserted him even in his final months. He leaves a neurologist son, a daughter, and four grandchildren, one of whom is also a doctor. [Steve Pollock]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a