We remember two of our trustees who have sadly died.
Dr Ian Joiner
Born 1931, died April 11th 2019, Sobriety date 1989
It would be true to say that Ian Joiner was the founding member of the Sick Doctors Trust.
It was in the Petersfield Group of the BDDG (the British Doctors & Dentists Group) in the early 1990’s that things started. Kevin Collins was also a member of that BDDG group and was active in the Sick Dentists Scheme, helping dentists with substance abuse problems. Discussion arose as to why the Doctors had no organisation like the Dentist’s scheme.
With encouragement from Kevin, and Joe Mee (also from Sick Dentists Scheme) Ian Joiner started contacting recovering doctors in BDDG and Alcoholics Anonymous. Initial meetings were in Ian and Anne’s own home in Farnham.
With Ian’s enthusiasm and organisational expertise this small group was soon developed into a plc with charity status. A telephone helpline was set up and for several years Ian also managed this from his home and answered all the calls himself.
With Ian as Chief Executive, the SDT was guided through its formative years.
For many years Ian was at the centre of things, active in the SDT, BDDG and AA.
He was the SDT’s principal ambassador liaising with, and influencing thinking in BMA, GMC, DHSS and other government bodies. He was not afraid to reveal his own problems with alcohol in order to get his message across which was particularly brave given there was even more negativity and lack of understanding surrounding drug and alcohol problems in the 1990s than there is now.
With his wife Ann’s ill-heath and her death in 2013, Ian stepped back a little from the frontline. He was made a patron of the SDT. In more recent times his own ill-health curtailed his activities.
His contribution was immense. Without him the SDT would not be what it is, and his efforts contributed significantly to the services we now have for addicted doctors. At many BDDG conventions, if anyone had a query, the answer was, on many occasions ‘I don’t know, ask Ian’. He was a great source of knowledge, contacts and wisdom.
There is an unknown number of healthy, happy, sober doctors practising in the UK today for whom hearing Ian’s voice on the phone was the first step in their recovery from addiction.
He will be missed tremendously for his upbeat attitude, sense of humour and wisdom. Thank you Ian for all you did for the community of addicted doctors and dentists.
Dr Michael Wilks
Died January 2019, aged 69
Michael Wilks was one of the co-founders of the Sick Doctors Trust in 1995 and for a few years was Vice-Chairman. He was one of our longest serving trustees.
He bravely went on TV on more than one occasion, using his own past experience of alcohol problems to help others, and for several years was a responder on the SDT helpline, giving up his time to give advice and talk to doctors making that difficult decision to come forward for help with their own drug and alcohol problems.
His experience with BMA committee work made him a valuable member of any SDT discussions and he always gave a sensible, and level-headed view when we were considering developing new ideas for the SDT.
Michael was also an active member of the BDDG (British Doctors & Dentists Group) Winchester Group, a peer-support group for doctors with substance abuse problems and welcomed those who were in the treatment centre nearby, to his local group when they attended as part of their rehab programme. The group will miss him greatly
He had been sober for many, many years at the time of his death, even through the stresses of cancer and chemotherapy, during which he never displayed any self-pity – an example to all.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Sandy, his wife and all his family
Thank you Michael, we will miss you!