Born: 
28/03/1929
Died: 
30/10/2010
Specialty: 
Medical Education/Audit/Research
Designatory Letters: 
MB Bristol 1956, DCH Lond 1961, MRCP Edin 1970, FRCP Edin 1973, FFPHM 1974, MRCGP 1976, FRCGP 1982

[Contributed by his family]

(Kenneth) Michael Parry was born in Manchester on May 28th 1929 but spent much of his childhood in the south west where his father was minister to the Congregational Free Parish in Westland, Bristol.

Michael Parry qualified as a doctor at Bristol, where he also met and married his beloved Mollie in 1954. Mollie was working as a children’s nurse and midwife. They were never apart in their 56 years of marriage and Mollie cared devotedly for Michael in his final years.

They have three children – Simon, Tim and Emma – six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The whole family came together for Michael’s 80th birthday party last year; it was a wonderful weekend which will live long their memories.

In the mid 1960s Michael moved his family to Scotland, first to Dundee and finally to Edinburgh where he developed a great love for the city.

Michael loved classical music, reading and writing. He was a fan of the Times Crossword and set himself the challenge of completing it by the end of each day. He generally did so.

He had a life-long commitment to medical education. After five years in general practice he entered medical administration in Manchester and then in Wessex where he presented evidence to the Royal Commissioner for Medical Education. This led to his appointment as senior administrative medical officer in Dundee where he was involved in the commissioning of the new medical school and teaching hospital at Ninewells.

One famous medical leader and statesman, Sir Kenneth Calman, recalls the help he received from Michael. “I met him first when I was appointed as a very young Postgraduate Dean in the West of Scotland. He provided for me an essential background to the post and to its context in Scotland and beyond. He had wide knowledge and was the person who was the basis of the excellent postgraduate training we had in Scotland. He was a delightful companion and someone with whom you could talk things over. He was both wise and kind.”

His ecumenical skills focussed on balancing the educational interests of the Royal Colleges, University medical schools and the NHS and made him first choice to head the new formed Scottish Council for Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education where he served for twenty five years. His significant influence on the development of postgraduate medical education is reflected in many of his writing and national and international speeches given throughout this period

Sir David Carter, Chairman of the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical Education says of him “Michael was a wise, thoughtful and kindly colleague who knew a great deal about Postgraduate Medical Education in the UK in general and in Scotland in particular. He moved quietly but with considerable purpose to position Scotland appropriately and strengthen the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education as a force for good. I was privileged to serve as Chairman of Council in his final years as its Secretary. As you know Scottish Council continued to move onwards and upwards from the base Michael created and the subsequent decision to make the organisation responsible for 100% of the salaries of training grade doctors empowered Postgraduate Deans and further enhanced the quality of Scottish training. The system developed here in Scotland, was regarded with not a little envy by colleagues south of the border!”