David McGregor November 29, 19444 - May 3, 2002

 David McGregor, a Senior Fish Health Inspector at Weymouth, died recently following a six-month battle against leukaemia. A close friend and colleague of mine throughout the twenty five years we worked together at the laboratory, David is sadly missed by all of us who knew him, and our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Sheila and family.

More than two hundred friends and colleagues from across the country attended the funeral service in Weymouth, and it was clear from the many expressions of sadness and loss just how much David was loved and respected. He was a likeable man, enthusiastic, vigorous and humorous - a man dedicated to his family, friends and work. He was someone who would always be there for you, whether on a professional or personal level. Many of those attending the funeral recalled the contribution David had made to the local community through boards of school governors, scouting and, not least, through the annual Upwey pantomime in which he always enjoyed a major role.

David completed his degree in zoology at Aberdeen University in 1967 before beginning a career in aquaculture and fish health with Unilever at their research laboratory in Aberdeen. His work concentrated on fish pathologies associated with a variety of aquaculture species. In 1970 he made a move with a fellow Unilever colleague David Conroy to establish a fish pathology unit at the Royal Zoological Society under Dr Ian Keymer the Society’s chief pathologist based at the London Zoo. During his time at the zoo David’s initial studies concentrated on Vibrio anguillarum its culture, characterisation and pathogenicity to both marine and freshwater fish. He also provided a disease diagnosis and treatment advice service to the London Zoo aquarium and often acted as the Society’s adviser on fish related problems. From 1973 his studies switched to research into the phagocytic mechanism in turbot in response to challenge with inert material and microorganisms, and David was awarded his M.Phil. based on this work. Having commuted into London for seven years from a home in Reading, and just started a family David took the opportunity to move to rural Dorset in 1977. He joined staff at the Fish Disease Laboratory (FDL) Weymouth, then part of MAFF, to further develop his fish pathology expertise and investigate disease problems in the developing fish farming industry. The small group established at around this time in Weymouth evolved into the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) that is now responsible for the implementation of the UK governments statutory responsibilities for fish and shellfish health in England and Wales.

During the twenty-five years as a Senior Fish Health Inspector David retained a close contact with the developing aquaculture industry and the associated emergent disease problems that inevitably mirrored this development. Always willing to listen, analyse, and wherever possible offer a positive perspective on a problem, David provided a valuable service particularly to newcomers to the industry in the late 1970s and 1980s when the industry was expanding in both size and number. With the advent of the single market in 1993 the FHI was charged with ensuring that the fish health monitoring programmes met the requirements of the EU regime, establishing and maintaining our approved zone status providing a safe environment in which the aquaculture industry could continue to develop. David played a leading role in this development, training and mentoring the expanding FHI team and leading on the underlying science of the programmes. David has always remained very generous with his accumulated knowledge and through various publications, courses and seminar programmes and his obvious enthusiasm for his subject has I am sure encouraged many to follow in his footsteps. David has also had close ties to the Isle of Man and since the mid seventies was responsible for providing advice, and delivering a fish health monitoring programme for the IOM in conjunction with the IOM government. This was initially to meet UK ova import requirements and allow trout ova to be imported into UK but latterly to meet the EU approved zone standards and permit trade throughout Europe. I know David looked forward to his regular trips to the IOM come rain or shine, and in recent weeks it has become clear just how much colleagues on the IOM felt the same.

More recently David had a potentially expanding role in developing elements of CEFAS business, with participation overseas at various fora and acting as a consultant, troubleshooting fish disease problems. David’s obvious enthusiasm for his work and business enterprise has always been contagious and both colleagues at Weymouth and those in the aquaculture industry have benefited from his eagerness to help in whatever way possible. 

At his funeral I met some of David’s non-work related friends from Weymouth, Reading and farther afield and was pleased to hear how they all also felt that David had been a very positive influence in their lives, always full of ideas and enthusiasm. His knowledge built up over the years in Aberdeen, London and latterly over twenty-five years based in Weymouth and his zest for life will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Eric B HudsonJune 2002