With much sadness, I have to report the passing of John B Pittard, one of the founding council members of the original PCCS. John, together with Richard Hobbs and Mark Davis, represented general practitioners on the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease Working Party. This work, published in 2000, was the cornerstone of the UK’s massive investment in tackling cardiovascular disease and was immensely successful.

John trained in the Universities of Newcastle and Oxford. He was a GP in Staines and made the national news when his practice was flooded in 2014 and he moved his surgery to the Swan Hotel on the River Thames. He was also a Hospital Practitioner in Cardiology at St Peters Hospital Chertsey, working with Professor Michael Joy, the national lead in aviation cardiology.

Born in 1947 in England, he lived much of his early life in Australia. He died at home of pancreatic cancer on the 23rd March, 2021 in Blandford Forum with his wife, Gill, at his side. He leaves behind many children and grandchildren, who he loved and of whom he was so proud. Anyone that knew him will remember his brilliant mind, charm and quick wit. He loved horse racing, golf, Chelsea Football Club and he never took life too seriously. His happy nature and relaxed attitude remained with him to the very end.

- Terry McCormack

General Practitioner and Honorary Professor of Primary Care Cardiovascular Medicine Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research, Hull York Medical School Whitby Group Practice, Spring Vale Medical Centre Whitby, North Yorkshire