SHEPHERD - Professor James
Few people are blessed with the gift of knowing that they have extended the lives of many through their labours, but Professor James Shepherd, who died on 26th April aged 78, was one.
A world renowned pathologist and biochemist, Jim spent his career almost exclusively in Glasgow University studying the role of blood fats and inflammation in the development of vascular and heart disease and directed the landmark clinical trials (WOSCOPS and PROSPER) which proved the effectiveness of “Statins” to prevent heart attacks and strokes in healthy people. Driven by the firm belief that preventing diseases was better than treating them, he went on to persuade government in Scotland and the NHS in England to provide these treatments to people without the need for prescription. In September 2019, some 14 years after he retired, the NHS in England announced that it would consider making Statins available direct from pharmacies as part of a wide-ranging reform of health prevention services.
Born in 1944, Jim terrorised his parents in his early years with his enthusiasm for biology and chemistry. His longsuffering mother had to endure animal dissection in the kitchen, and chemistry experiments which redecorated the lounge. On one occasion his father, noting that things had gone a little quiet in the house, went to find him, only to gain a shrapnel wound from the rocket he was making as it exploded through the garage door.
Looking back, it was really no surprise he ended up studying the chemistry of life and, fortunately, medical school in Glasgow marked a point of focus for his “explorations.” He studied hard – winning the Brunton prize awarded to the most distinguished graduate of the year.
His post-graduate career took him to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas for 18 months before he then settled in the Department of Pathological Biochemistry at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. His career was interspersed with invitations to work in other centres around the world – notably Geneva, Helsinki and in Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. A skilled speaker he travelled the world educating doctors about what he and his colleagues had discovered and yet at home remained humble about his undoubted achievements, with many friends not fully aware of the importance his discoveries have had.
He knew his wife Jan from childhood and they started dating when he was 16 but, it would be 9 years and 2 degrees before they would “tie the knot” with 2 children, Ewen and Fiona, arriving in due time.
Travel to educate was a large part of his working life and Jim always found time to get to know the place, its history, artists and people wherever he went. Despite having to work whilst travelling, Jim often swapped “first-class” air fares for economy to allow him to take the children with him. These trips were jam-packed and tightly scheduled but he always made time to ensure that we had fun and experienced something of other cultures.
This interest in other cultures (particularly in Asia and Australasia) remained in his retirement. He leaves behind a house full of mementos and purchases from all over the globe which serve as a memory for the family (a frequent memory in the case of the mechanical clocks - which he loved – and set to chime at one minute intervals). Latterly, of course, travel ceased and life slowed down. It was then that Jim showed ever more devotion to Jan as she began to struggle with her health.
He will be missed by many, but especially by Jan, his children - Ewen and Fiona, and 4 grandchildren.
Jim’s memorial will be held at Selkirk Street Evangelical Church in Hamilton on 13th May 2022 at 1pm.
The family would be grateful for any gifts in his memory to be made as donations to the British Heart Foundation.