Kathleen Malone remembers former SoR President Des Friel, who died this year.
Desmond was born in Manchester on 1 July 1916, the youngest of five children.
He left school in 1933 having gained his school certificate and began work in as a radium laboratory assistant at the Holt Radium Institute in Manchester. After two years his aptitude and diligence were recognised and he became a pupil radiographer at the Hope Hospital, qualifying in radiography and therapy in December 1937.
To his father’s pride and delight Desmond accepted a post at the prestigious Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Sadly, during this time both Desmond’s parents passed away. Desmond then moved on to work in Birmingham and then the Royal Infirmary, Leicester.
With the onset of war he was posted to the Military Hospital, Belfast as sergeant radiographer. Finding that the work did not really challenge him, he undertook a detailed analysis of his case load and the radiographic responses to it.
When this was spotted by a visiting commander his potential was recognised and he was sent as sergeant instructor to the Army X-ray School at Millbank in London. During his four years there he produced the Royal Army Handbook of Radiography and also found time to invent a radiographic exposure calculator.
Desmond was working in the early years of a profession that was developing rapidly. He was tenacious, hard working, utterly focused and dedicated to patient care. His creative, inventive mind was well suited to developing new techniques and equipment.
From 1946 to 1956 he was superintendent radiographer at the London Hospital, a huge establishment of over 1000 beds. During this time he developed 12 radiographic accessories for various angiographic examinations, including a light weight cassette, reviewed a number of books, published over 20 articles in radiography journals and participated in various police forensic examinations including three murder investigations, receiving a special award for his work in 1949.
Teaching
In 1956, he becoming teacher principal at the School of Radiography in Liverpool. He remained in this field in Liverpool lecturing at the Department of Radiodiagnosis at Liverpool University from 1968-1976, lecturing on post-graduate courses and conferences.
During this time he earned the respect and recognition of his peers, being elected member of a number of committees and boards, and in 1963 was elected as a member of the National Council, serving until 1976.
Having been president of the Liverpool Radiographic Society in 1960, he became president of the National Society of Radiographers in 1965. On completion of his term of office he was made an Honorary Fellow, in 1975 presenting the 38th Founders Stanley Melville Lecture.
Throughout this busy and demanding schedule he also managed to undertake work overseas as the SoR’s representative to Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Hong Kong and Singapore. He also attended conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Hong Kong as recently as 1986.
Desmond was totally committed and devoted to his work, an indomitable character who made an enormous contribution in so many spheres of radiology, both at home and abroad.
Retirement
Upon retirement as Head of Radiography School in Liverpool, he moved to Padstow, quickly becoming involved in the Padstow community. Gloria Elsey, a charity worker in the area, quickly recognised Desmond’s gifts and he travelled throughout the county raising money for the first total body scanner at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske.
He moved to Penzance in 1991 where he continued to work, actively, for Pengarth Day Centre, Cornwall Blind Association and Cornwall Tapes.
Desmond had a great sense of humour which he displayed to the very last. He was unfailingly courteous, gentle, kind and compassionate. He showed utter commitment to his faith, praying for all he loved and held dear at least twice a day.
It was a privilege to know such a special and exceptional man. We loved you Desmond and shall miss you. May you rest in eternal peace with God your beloved Father.
