David Enoch Obituary

My friend David Enoch, who has died aged 99, made his top people arsenic a campaigner for humane intelligence wellness attraction and was a founding chap of nan Royal College of Psychiatrists. In nan 1960s he served arsenic a aesculapian advisor to Barbara Robb, nan psychotherapist who exposed neglect and maltreatment successful long-stay NHS psychiatric wards and, done her arguable book Sans Everything (1967), pushed for awesome reforms.

Although wellness ministers, including Kenneth Robinson and Enoch Powell, initially dismissed nan allegations, nan run yet led to argumentation changes. As nan advisor successful complaint astatine Shelton infirmary successful Shrewsbury, David introduced “care successful nan community”, turning nan erstwhile asylum into a training crushed for reforms.

Born successful Penygroes, southbound Wales, to Maria (nee Davies) and Thomas Enoch, a ember hewer, David expected he would participate nan ministry. However, aft schoolhouse astatine Amman Valley grammar, Carmarthenshire, wherever he was caput boy, he was conscripted into nan British service during nan 2nd world warfare astatine 18, and served connected India’s north-west frontier during partition. He later recalled proceeding Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammed Ali Jinnah reside immense crowds while stationed pinch nan Sikh Regiment.

The suffering he witnessed persuaded him to study medicine, and erstwhile he was demobilised went to St Thomas’ infirmary aesculapian schoolhouse successful London. He graduated successful 1954 and trained astatine University College infirmary and nan Maudsley infirmary successful nan capital, wherever he studied modern psychopharmacology. While astatine Runwell infirmary successful Wickford, Essex (which closed successful 2010), successful nan precocious 50s, David produced a prizewinning insubstantial connected Capgras syndrome, a uncommon psychiatric condition.

He compiled lawsuit studies successful his 1967 book Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes, which was translated into respective languages and became a modular activity of reference. Although this made his sanction successful nan wider profession, David said his existent calling was improving diligent care. His investigation complemented his activism, demonstrating that uncommon illusion disorders deserved compassion alternatively than ridicule.

After starring reforms astatine Shelton hospital, he was headhunted to go a elder advisor astatine nan Royal Liverpool University infirmary successful 1974. There he built a move section and taught generations of psychiatrists, insisting they dainty “body, mind and tone together”. Students recalled his charisma and consciousness of humour: he was nicknamed “Enoch nan Uncommon”, aft his book, and was known for his insistence that juniors perceive cautiously to patients.

A committed Christian, David published books specified arsenic Healing nan Hurt Mind (1983) and I Want a Christian Psychiatrist (2006), which blended religion and psychiatry. He summarised this successful his autobiography Enoch’s Walk: Ninety-Five, Not Out (2022).

He saw his past diligent successful 2012, but remained progressive arsenic a teacher and laic preacher. His first wife, Joyce (nee Davies), died successful 1993. In 1996 he joined Anne (nee Bellamy), a caput teacher.

David is survived by Anne, his boy Dafydd, from his first marriage, and six grandchildren.