Sn hmoriam

RONALD SAMSON CLIFT COUCH, M.D., M.R.C.P., F.F.R.

ON Monday night 25th July 1966, Ron Couch was killed in a car accident in France, whilst beginning a holiday with his wife and their four children. Thus ended in stark tragedy, the life of one of the most popular and outstanding British radiologists of his generation.

Ronald Samson Cliff Couch was born in 1925. He received his initial medical training at the Middlesex Hospital where his academic ability was recognised by the award of the Thomas Yeats Anatomy Prize and the Senior Broderip Scholar- ship. He qualified M.B.B.S. in 1948 and within the next few years he achieved the M.R.C.P. (London), M.D. (London), D.M.R.D. and F.F.R.

Ronald held house appointments and a medical registrarship at the Middlesex Hospital. He then served full-time for two years as a Medical Officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, following which he continued to hold a permanent commission in the London Division of the R.N.V.R.

He began training in diagnostic radiology at the Middlesex Hospital and then moved to St. Thomas' Hospital where he worked for two years as Senior Registrar and Assistant Radiologist. This was

followed by a Senior Registrarship at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square. In 1959 he was appointed Consultant at The London Hospital and The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital; a few years later he became a Consultant Radiologist to The London Clinic.

This mere recital of the factual academic and appointment attainments of Ronald Couch provides ample' testimony of his exceptional professional competence but it gives no insight to the man proper. Ronald was a most charming person, of quiet relaxed manner, unassuming, almost self- effacing, yet so obviously competent and reliable. He was of unusually calm composure and never appeared ruffled or hurried. Having worked for two years in the closest proximity of an adjacent "horse-box", the writer has never heard Ronaid utter one word in temper or frustration. His extreme popularity with radiological and clinical colleagues at all levels, with radiographers, nurses and patients was always patently evident.

He gave an exceptionally sound opinion on the widest range of radiological problems and he could always be relied upon to adopt the rational, logical approach based on his extensive clinical experience. Ronald chose neuroradiology as his principle specialised interest and received further training in Sweden and Queen's Square. He subsequently made several important contributions both to the technique and interpretation of neuroradiology. His opinion and technical skill as a neuroradiologist were widely recognised, but it is as an exceptionally sound, general radiodiagnostician that he will be remembered by many of his colleagues and friends. British Radiology has lost one who appeared destined to make an even greater future contribu- tion.

In another obituary, a senior colleague has referred to Ronald Couch as 'one of this world's really gentle people'. With this sentiment, his contemporary colleagues and all who have worked with him would unanimously agree. Ronald was devoted to his wife and his four children: they formed an ideally happy family. To his wife Doreen, his two sons and two daughters, go our deepest sympathies in their irreplaceable loss. It is with relief that we learn that Doreen and the children are recovering from their physical injuries received in this tragic accident. R.G.G.

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