Anthony Clare 1942-2007

I was shocked to hear about the untimely death at the relatively young age of 64 of the popular psychiatrist and broadcaster Professor Anthony Clare.
Clare was a brilliant mind as well as a colourful character. He would occasionally provide commentary for TV documentaries like the popular science programme QED (including a particularly interesting one on the forensic analysis of the Shroud of Turin broadcast back in the 1980s), mixing erudite views with quirky humour, but is perhaps best known for his Radio 4 show “In the Psychiatrist’s Chair”, a sort of psychiatric version of Desert Island Discs or This is your life, in which he would interview prominent figures and bring out their inner feelings.
When I was researching depression recently I picked up a fascinating book “Depression and how to survive it” which took the form of a series of interviews between Clare and the late comedian Spike Milligan – a meeting of great minds (albeit very different minds) if ever there was one.

France in mourning for one of its greatest

“We have no ambitions other than being a flea that bites a politician or a bureaucrat, shouting “Wake up!”, so they will finally hear the silent voice of the people”
Abbé Pierre 1912-2007

To my great ignorance and shame and, despite having studied French for several years, I had never heard of this remarkable man before his death was announced a couple of days ago. Although little known outside France, he consistently topped the country’s popularity charts and came third in a poll to find “le plus grand français de tous les temps” behind former president Charles de Gaulle and scientist Louis Pasteur. He earned great respect as a campaigner for social justice having come to the aid of Jewish refugees during the WWII and founding the homeless charity Emmaus. There were times when he courted controversy, but was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in for the greater good.