Raymond R Phillips HonFRPS, HonFIMI, FBIPP
Sadly, I must report Ray’s passing. He was a member of the Royal Photographic Society from 1956 until his death last month. Ray was awarded his Fellowship in 1975 and an Honorary Fellowship in 1997.
For over 20 years, Ray served on the Medical Group Committee, (three terms as chairman). He also served on the Medical Awards Standing Committee, Medical Distinctions Panel (Member and Chairman), Science Distinctions Panel (Member) and was a Medical Group Representative on RPS Council.
He also chaired the BIPP Medical Group and was medical photography examiner, lecturer, tutor (London School of Medical Photography), author, consultant (Wellcome Trust, Amnesty International and The Medical Faculty of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok) and was Registrar for Medical Illustration Practitioners (CAMIP).
Ray was a lecturer, tutor and mentor to numerous medical photographers over his career, myself included. In addition, he was a part time lecturer to the Royal Free School of Radiography over a ten-year period and delivered many papers to professional organisational meetings and conferences in subjects ranging from general photography, photomicrography / macrography to the introduction of computers into medical photography departments.
Ray also taught photography as a hobby to many London camera clubs and for a year, at Pentonville Prison, but I hasten to add, not as an inmate.
He was author of a number of articles covering a wide range of subjects from Microphotography in medical imaging and skin replication techniques, to instructional media design and production in medicine.
Ray was the recipient of numerous awards for his photography over the years from professional organisations, learned societies and commercial companies such as the British Pharmaceutical Industries.
And for his main day job, Ray held various professional positions including Director and Head of Departments of Medical Illustration and Medical Photography in a number of leading London Teaching Hospitals.
Ray was a consummate professional, passionate over all things photographic, and avidly read the RPS Journal. He simply loved taking photographs in addition to his professional work. He was a great personal friend, ex-boss and mentor to me and numerous colleagues.
Ray’s contribution to his profession has been immense and medical photography is so much richer for it, as are the many friendships he formed over the years.
Nigel Pearson ARPS