Obituary: Professor Gordon McInnes 

The Society mourns the sudden loss of one of its most well-known figures, and Past Presidents.  Gordon McInnes was a much loved and highly respected academic physician.  He was Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow, and was President of BIHS from 2007-2009.  His main interests were high blood pressure, high cholesterol and latterly the prevention of stroke with anticoagulants, and his research and promotion and teaching in these areas undoubtedly improved the care of a large number of patients worldwide. Gordon was a brilliant and highly sought after speaker at international conferences. His great skills were his ability to interpret and communicate complex data in an articulate and entertaining way. No one fell asleep in Gordon’s lectures.

Gordon was also very personable and convivial, and his social interaction with his colleagues never failed to be entertaining and memorable.  Many members of our Society will have travelled and lectured with Gordon over the years, and no-one ever chose to speak after him. Gordon was a very hard act to follow.  Gordon was quite tall and, he was affectionately known as ‘big Gordon’ in part for his physical stature but mostly for his intellect. He knew the scientific literature in great detail and he carefully dissected and appraised the strength of evidence better than any other clinical academic. He was a role model that we all aspired to.

Gordon served in most capacities on the Executive Committee over the years.  Gordon was truly proud and thrilled when he was elected President of the BHS in 2007.  He loved being President of the society he had done so much for, and led the BHS with distinction and individuality.

We all regret his passing from a myocardial infarction, one of the highly prevalent conditions in Scotland and something Gordon had done so much to reduce during his lifetime.  His only fault was that he was occasionally infuriated by his golf!

Our thoughts are with Dorothy and their three children.

Adrian Brady, Alan Jardine and Tom MacDonald
On Behalf of the British and Irish Hypertension Society