Heinz Shire

Heinz Shire

I first met Heinz Shire in 1964 when I applied to become an assistant in his group practice. His partnership was an old, well established group of doctors, in Smethwick in the West Midlands. I was told that all the partners were dedicated for the full care of their patients and they did not encourage the new partners to have hospital jobs. The only concession I had, with Heinz’s encouragement, was to be allowed to teach medical students. Straight away I was sure this was the group of doctors I wanted to practise medicine with.

I worked with Heinz for 25 years until his retirement. All the time he was my mentor, hard working and very helpful to the younger colleagues.

He took great interest in the local medicopolitics and was a member of the local medical committee. During the early years of his career he was very supportive in the establishment of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He also saw the start of the National Health Service and he believed in its concept of care for all, passionately.

Heinz was a doctor of our time. He was always proud of the fact that our family practice consisted of all religions, race, and colour.

In 1980s, because of his reputation as an honest man with a great ability for arbitration, Heinz was asked to chair Dudley Road Hospital management board (renamed City Hospital). In those days, the hospital was managed by consensus agreement and this suited Heinz’s capabilities admirably. For some years he gave his service fully and ably.

When he retired in 1989, he travelled with his wife, Ruth, and attended a lot of concerts, plays, and operas, which were his passion, but he never forgot his community work. He visited all sorts of organisations promoting peace and goodwill among all kinds of religions and communities.

He leaves behind his wife, Ruth; his two sons, David and Michael; and his daughter, Miriam.

He will be missed by all. [O O Dervish]