Editorial

Editorship

This issue contains a series of tributes to the late Professor Denis Hawkins who was responsible for establishing this Journal. His objective was that it should have primarily an educational role, and it supported the teaching provided by the Postgraduate Institute at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital. He served as Editor from 1980 to 1996.

Second, Mr Harry Gordon, who has been Editor since 1996, will hang up his ‘editorial pen’ later this year. Harry encouraged many authors, including those whose first language was not English, to persevere with reconstruction and re-editing of what they wanted to write in their articles, in order to achieve publication.

We are moving into a new era. I stay as Editor and Zara Whitlock stays as Editorial Administrator. From later this year, we will only accept papers submitted electronically, and two Associate Editors will help select articles to be processed, i.e. articles that too closely resemble what we have recently published, or are outside our remit will not be accepted. The others will be electronically distributed to Reviewers (using UK or overseas experts) for comment, and either accepted, returned for further clarification or re-writing, or rejected. The easiest way of being considered favourably is to follow the Instructions to Authors, and one of the most frequent reasons for rejection is the submission of a Case Report that does not fulfil our requirements.

This year, the Journal starts the process of scoring for Impact Factor and Citation Index. This means that articles need relevance and interest to those who will write and quote them in due course. Review articles help this process – this issue's Review Articles are aimed at educating trainees. However, there will be readers who have recently written theses and who would be keen to convert parts of their introductory chapters into a suitable Review – please contact me if you need advice.

I hope the philosophy behind Denis Hawkins's creation of this Journal can continue in this new guise. Good reading, and every encouragement to potential authors.

Allan B. MacLean

Tributes

Few people are lucky enough to have had two fathers. Fewer still are lucky enough to have had Denis Hawkins as their second father. This metaphor seems to best describe the first decade of our relationship and it felt, to us, a more natural and spontaneous one than the reality of a son-in-law and father-in-law. After Denis' bypass operation our relationship evolved into one of a deep and close friendship. Post my divorce from Valerie, and this seems to me the mark of this complex and unique man, our friendship grew closer still.

When I think of Denis, I laugh. His wicked and irreverent sense of humour was as much as a part of him as his kindness, his generosity, his formidable intellect, his hatred of cant and hypocrisy, his non-medical interests and pursuits: his intensity. We shared many interests: history, archaeology, books, photography, travel, research and cinema spring immediately to mind. With Denis, I was lucky enough, and privileged to indulge in these to a degree and extent that would have been impossible without him.

Getting drunk with him in hole in the wall bars; scrabbling through pitch dark caves to take infra-red photographs of early Christian crosses; investigating inscriptions at Delphi; hanging around in god-awful little airports at five in the morning existing on a diet of dreadful coffee and nicotine – are but a few snapshot memories.

Sartre said hell is other people. His dictum could not have been more wrong when applied to Denis.

David Bruce

I worked with Professor Hawkins as his Journal secretary near enough from the beginning of the Journal. During this time, not only was he very helpful with his comments to the authors, but also he was extremely kind to me, especially when my son was seriously ill. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Anne Jones

Denis Hawkins has been my mentor during my fellowship in Boston in the 1960s. He helped me to learn how to think clearly. He was a superb teacher and later became a great friend. As such I shall remember him.

Domenico Pecorari

I was truly shocked to learn Professor Hawkins had passed away. He was not only an exceptional physician: above all, he was an exceptional person from whom I learned so much. I would like to express my profound condolences to his family.

Prof Gian Carlo Di Renzo

I am really sorry to learn about the death of Professor Hawkins. I met him many, many years ago, and I distinctly remember he was kind and warm to me.

Ruzi Bhathena

I met Denis Hawkins some 15 years ago when visiting Queen Charlotte's Hospital to see Michael deSwiet. It was a short courtesy meeting in his office – like mine overflowing with books, papers, and manuscripts. A few months later, we met again at Queen Charlotte's and had time to talk about places and interests beyond hospitals. Denis quizzed me about my work in South America and the western Himalaya and then began to describe his archaeological and historical interests. We had a long conversation about the importance and relevance of history and culture for contemporary medicine. At some point, he fished out a couple of manuscripts submitted to the Journal and asked my opinion. The papers were marked by his unique script in red ink; the critique of a thoughtful teacher and mentor. He asked me if I thought editorial obligations included making corrections and improvements or did I consider the editorial role only as a critic. The manuscripts were from an Asian and an African source. The English was inadequate to the task of description for the clinical cases, but the cases were unique and of value. He wanted to publish the case reports with his editorialisation without asking the authors to do the revising.

What was there to argue about? Here was one of those special mentors who believed in forwarding the careers of colleagues from around the globe. Yes, the Hawkins revision would be faxed back to the authors and simultaneously sent to the publishers. There were never any complaints or rejections to my knowledge.

In due course, I was asked to serve on the Editorial Board over a dinner at Rules. Denis wanted to be sure I experienced the tradition of London's oldest continuously operating restaurant. Of course, I said yes – a memorable meal and evening.

Richard V. Lee, M.D.

So sorry to hear about Denis – he was so committed to encouraging junior doctors to write/publish and therefore begin to think more critically about clinical work.

Sara Paterson Brown

How sad that Denis has died. Denis could be irascible and rude. I will never forget his demanding the resignation of the chairman of the Hammersmith Hospitals Trust. But there was never any doubt that his heart was in the right place; whether in support of his patients, the Institute of O&G or the Journal.

Professor Michael de Swiet

I am deeply saddened to learn that DFH has died. I was his Senior Registrar at Hammersmith Hospital in 1978 – 1979 before returning to Australia.

I well remember, of course, the accent, the laugh (more a chuckle), the teeth, fingernails, pipe and cigar. He could indeed be difficult and demanding.

He was very bright, insightful and always stimulating. He was kind and considerate and always a supportive mentor and colleague. He was intensely loyal to me and, I rather think, to many others; the opinion of others did not tarnish his loyalty or trust.

Life dealt DFH some pretty rough cards and how he coped, heaven only knows.

When I think of DFH I am mindful of these lines from the South Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon:

“Life is mostly froth and bubble

Two things stand like stone

Kindness in another's trouble

Courage in your own”

Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833 – 1870) “Ye Wearie Wayfarer, hys ballad”

While DFH did not have too much of the first line the last two are particularly apposite.

Christopher Verco

I was Denis' House Officer at The Hammersmith from 1979 – 1980 during which time I overlapped with Chris Verco who remains a very good friend to this day. Denis Hawkins was a superb doctor, not just for his thoughtful care for his patients and his skills, but for his intelligent interaction with all those involved in the lives of his patients. His rigorous demands on the Juniors in the team, that patients' notes must be accurate, succinct and highly informative ensured that the GPs were able to give the best care to the patients before and after hospital treatment. On ward rounds, he drummed into us that the most important people were the nurses whose anecdotes and observations were such a valuable source of information in ensuring the patients' well-being. His loyalty to and support for his entire team was always so encouraging. He was a fine example of humanity, loyalty, wisdom and skill to all of us who were lucky enough to work with him.

Dr John Heap