Prof John Grimley Evans’ outstanding contribution to Geriatric Medicine was marked by a lifetime achievement award at the annual meeting of the Austrian Geriatrics Society in May 2005.

The presentation was made by the mayoress of Vienna, Mrs Renate Brauner.

A fulsome tribute to Grimley’s work was given by Dr Katharina Pils, head of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Ludwig Boltzman Institute. She described Grimley’s remarkable successes: as researcher; editor of Age and Ageing and the Oxford Textbook of Geriatric Medicine; as a tireless advocate for elderly people; as an exemplar in education and teaching.

His role as co-founder of the European Association for the Medicine of Ageing (EAMA) was given particular praise. This organisation has provided postgraduate geriatric courses for 550 doctors from 22 countries. Many of the EAMA students have gone on to achieve great academic success across Europe and beyond.

In his acceptance speech, Grimley described the pioneering work of Nascher, an Austrian émigré who moved to New York and who first coined the word “Geriatrics” in 1909. He praised Nascher’s concern for those who were despised by society. He traced the evolution of our specialty and reminded the audience that ill old people needed the best of modern medicine and needed it quickly. He criticised some of the currently fashionable political dogmas and the lazy assumptions about increasing disability in the ageing population. He outlined the challenges of the 22nd century – the linking of medicine with the social and behavioural sciences, the shift of focus to health promotion and education and the necessity of putting pressure on politicians so that older people are not further disadvantaged.

His thoughtful and provocative address received prolonged applause. It was good to see the master on such fine form and gratifying that his work was recognised by his receiving such a prestigious award.

Graham Mulley