We publish this tribute paid by Dr Jonathan Ledermann to Richard Lynham at Richard’s memorial service in June. It eloquently sums up the enigmatic and private man with which many of us at the BGS worked. Dr Ledermann was Richard’s neighbour of 22 years.

Twenty-two years ago we moved into Langbourne Avenue. Our neighbour in the adjoining house

A simple, but far reaching triumph - by Peter Millard, BGS Past-President Richard's unsung triumph, for us and for future generations of old people, was to get Rehabilitation back on to the government agenda. During the many meetings at the Department of Health, during my period as BGS President, I deferred to Richard’s understanding of the politician’s mindset, "If you want to change policy, bang a drum - Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation - till the message gets through". I remember, as if it was yesterday, the day in 1995, when I met, by chance, John Bowis, MP for Battersea, then Minister of Health, in the House of Commons Foyer. "Rehabilitation is the key, isn't it, Peter?" he said. "Yes Minister", I replied and, smiling, I walked on. HSG 95/8 followed soon after. We had triumphed. Where, when, how, who, is all a matter of debate, but, as you struggle, in the heat of the day, to rebuild a new style comprehensive, knowledge based, system of care for older people, it's worth standing still a while, and thinking of Richard Lynham and the advice he gave.

was a man in his 40’s - Richard Lynham. Each of us who attended the memorial service knew Richard in some way. I suspect that none of us knew the complete Richard Lynham but we all have our own recollections and anecdotes to tell of a man who touched our lives, probably more than he ever realised. I would like to share with you some of my memories of our friend and neighbour who sadly departed from life too early.

Richard was not a man known for garrulous gossip. His telephone manner was precise and short, but not without wit. His recorded voice of the ‘mechanical butler’s’ message on the answer phone was typical of his dry sense of humour. Sometimes it was difficult to engage Richard in conversation, yet, when he let down his external guard he chatted, discussed and listened, demonstrating a breadth of knowledge, rich life history and interest in many things. It was through our children, our common interest in medicine, medical politics and Langbourne Avenue life that I was able to nurture our friendship.

Richard’s background in the pharmaceutical industry and later his prominent and guiding role as Administrative Director of the British Geriatrics Society for 13 years provided many opportunities for discussion. Richard had a good knowledge of the NHS and insight into its many problems. He and I had many long discussions – often over the garden fence as he tended the garden that he loved so much.

As our four children grew up, they saw Richard in different guises. For Hannah and Daniel, Richard’s solitary existence, regular trips abroad and sessions with the Territorial Army conjured up ideas that he was in fact a ‘secret agent’. These fanciful ideas may after all have had some truth. We were lucky to have had a tolerant neighbour as Hannah and Daniel’s music practice – piano, violin and cello almost every day, sometimes for several hours only rarely created telephone calls to complain. Richard quietly put in sound-proofing in one of his rooms; it caused us some embarrassment, but we did our best to make sure that practice rooms and times caused him as little inconvenience as possible.

Dance is the love and life of our third child, Tamara. Through Tamara, we became aware of Richard’s great interest in ballet. This extended back to his childhood and his father, Deryck, whose efforts helped to sustain ballet through the wartime blitz. Richard’s mother, May, helped Deryck publish two books on ballet and Richard, in later life, helped to bring to fruition May’s book on the life of Barbarina Campanini, one of the most celebrated 18th century ballerinas. The book, “Barbarina”, was published in 2003, three years after May’s death. Characteristically, all royalties go to the Royal Ballet School. Richard took a keen interest in Tamara’s dancing and over the last few years accompanied us to some of her shows at school and at the National Youth Ballet. Richard regularly attended ballet performances in London and over recent years he invited Tamara to many of these, offering her a wonderful opportunity to see some world-class ballet performances. His keen interest in exposing the young to the arts even extended to our youngest child, Ilana, who he took to Swan Lake, last summer.

We returned this week from the finals of the Oxford University Rowing Eights, supporting our two eldest children. It was a joyful occasion as Hannah’s boat retained headship of the river but one also tinged with sadness as Richard accompanied us to the finals last summer. Being together for the journey and day gave me an opportunity to learn more about this most enigmatic man. We talked at length about his life growing up in Switzerland, and of then being sent to school in England. I was not surprised to learn that rowing was another interest he pursued in earlier years on the Thames tideway. Richard’s breadth of interest was very wide, extending well beyond medicine, business and the law – some of the areas in which he worked. He had a strong commitment to social justice, not only working as a Justice of the Peace but also as a lay advisor to the Royal College of Physicians. Richard was also an artist and painting was dear to him, and an art form in which he could express himself. He regularly went on courses and painting holidays with groups in England and abroad.

Adults and the children of Langbourne Avenue will remember different aspects of Richard, but for many it will be his masterly control of the children’s games and family ‘tug-o-war’ at the biennial street parties that we have had over the last 20 years. I can’t remember a party without him and his fair, amusing but orderly refereeing and control of children and adults of all ages will be sadly missed at the next event.

Richard carried the diagnosis of chronic leukaemia over the last few years with an outward sangfroid and optimism such that few knew of his illness until the last few months. Following retirement from his work with the British Geriatrics Society due to ill health, he was determined to engage in life as fully as he could. In addition to continuing his work as a JP he started his Open University Course in European Studies, which sadly he was unable to complete.

The last few months of Richard’s life were distressing and sad for him and all who knew him. Unfortunately the new anti-leukaemia drugs that he and his doctors had thought would give him a longer life in good health failed. His visits and admissions to hospital increased and his last and final admission was unexpectedly sudden and then prolonged.

As I gaze each day from the window of our house into his lovely garden, I think of Richard and miss the almost daily sights of a quiet, resourceful and very private man, dressed in his garden jacket and always wearing a suitable hat for the occasion - a left over from bygone days.

Richard in his own way was very much a part of the ‘Langbourne Avenue set’. There can be few residents and local shop-keepers in Swain’s Lane who did not know him or recognise him in his characteristic walking attire, again never without his trilby. Richard was a man known for his precise, pithy comments and lovely dry sense of humour. He was a real gentleman with an intriguing personality, someone I would very much liked to have known better. My family and I were fortunate to experience a small part of his world and we are grateful that he became part of our lives, and we part of his. We shall miss him.

Dr Jonathan Ledermann

The quiet man behind the scenes - by Arup Banerjee, BGS Past-President Although I had a regular working relationship with Richard over many years, whilst a member of the BGS Policy Committee, the Council and the Executive Committee (as they were called then), my relationship with him strengthened during my years as President-elect, President and immediate Past President of the Society. My time in office coincided with the BGS 50th anniversary Celebrations and Richard was instrumental in master-minding the major events. Richard had an astounding knowledge and understanding of members, their whereabouts and backgrounds. He used to ''brief'' me in depth, prior to my visits to the Regional Jubilee Celebratory events where Jubilee Medals were being awarded notable members for their lifelong contributions to our movement. He himself would always stay behind the scenes, polite, reserved, but deeply committed to the interests of the Society and geriatric medicine. Richard was extremely supportive of my ''introduction'' in 1997, the Jubilee year, of the Society Medal (for the alleviation of suffering of the Aged), to be awarded once a year at the Autumn Meeting to distinguished non-members of the Society from any background. An administrator par excellence, well-disciplined and firm with the interests of the Society and its objectives at heart, Richard made enormous contributions to the augmentation, and excellence of the BGS. It was during his tenure that the Society expanded its influence both politically and publicly, not to mention physically in that he steered us to our new ''home'' at Marjory Warren House. I mourn the loss of a very dear colleague and friend. Arup Banerjee