George William Senter

George William Senter

Former consultant dermatologist West Midlands (b Edinburgh 1911; q Edinburgh 1937), d 21 June 2001.

He was educated at George Watson’s College and went on to study fine arts before switching to medicine. He joked that he staved off poverty by playing his fiddle in a danceband—the same instrument was later to entertain friends, children, and grandchildren (most especially when played behind his back). He was an accomplished artist and competent and creative craftsman in very many ways.

Originally intending to specialise in paediatrics, he was diverted into dermatology while serving with the Royal Air Force in the Middle East during the second world war. It was in Tripoli that he met, and later married, Joan, his ward sister. On repatriation, after a brief time back in Edinburgh and then Dundee, the family settled in Birmingham in 1951. George was appointed consultant dermatologist to the West Midlands with responsibility for the Walsall hospital group, Redditch, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Tamworth, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, and also the Skin Hospital in Birmingham.

A humorous, thoughtful person, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge. He put much time and effort into preparing and giving talks and lectures. These were usually illustrated by a fine collection of slides. He was quoted as saying that "dermatology without pictures is like osteology without the bones."

He was keen to support self help groups and was for a time the chairman of the Psoriasis Association.

He put his creative skills to good use and created exhibits shown both in this country and abroad (Sweden and Canada), gaining several awards including a Certificate of Merit in 1958 for work on the Sebaceous Gland. Published papers included "Molluscum Contagiosum" (1964) and "Toxic Reactions to Local Steroid Application" (1973). His thesis entitled "Lamination" was completed in 1960. It is now lodged in the BAD archives.

George built up a busy, successful private practice in his beloved arts and crafts house in Edgbaston, loyally supported and guided by Joan. He retired from the NHS in 1976 and then continued locum work for a further five years, often combining dermatology appointments with watercolour painting courses.

His final years were spent in Oxford and then in Surrey, where he died. His ashes were interred in the grave of his forebears at Kildrummy in Aberdeenshire on 28 September, which would have been his 90th birthday. [Elizabeth O’Sullivan]