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In Memoriam: Dr. Alan Weston By
Dr. Alan Weston of Calgary passed away peacefully on December 31, 2003, after a brief illness that he met with equanimity, courage and resilience. Of an adventurous bent, Alan was born in Liverpool in 1922 and at age 18 years joined the navy as a medical attendant—a fertile topic for his storytelling. In 1952, he graduated from the University of Liverpool and after five years of general practice, moved his young family to Rhodesia, where his duties included public health, medical and surgical practice, a leper colony and yes a psychiatric unit, as well serving the courts and the prison. In 1965, he graduated in psychiatry—specializing in forensic psychiatry and consulting on many notorious cases, including that of the Yorkshire Ripper. He also helped plan U.K. national forensic services; the Butler Commission became a blueprint for many countries, including Canada. In 1978, Dr. Weston came to Canada as the Director of the new Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon—Canada’s first purpose-built federal forensic high-security hospital. He focused on patient care and led his staff by example—treating his patients, who were among the most feared and stigmatized, with respect. He earned the esteem of psychiatrists and legal professionals in Saskatoon, Ottawa and Calgary (where he worked for 20 years). He inspired many to enter forensic psychiatry. His colleagues and staff found him accessible, knowledgeable and practical. Alan’s extraordinary resilience was sustained by love. He had a family experience of mental illness, and his many patients sustained him immensely. He is survived by his devoted wife Glenys, daughters Chris and Anne, son-in-law Bill and grandchildren Harry and Jessica. Alan did not seek personal recognition, and when it came his way, he accepted it with modesty, wondering what the fuss was about. Alan showed us how to live our senior years with love, grace, dignity, a strong sense of purpose and remarkable resilience. On behalf of all of us: God speed, Alan! |
