Charles B. Whittaker — Charley to his many friends — died unexpectedly in hospital in Edinburgh on 26 October 1998 at the age of 72. He had been retired from psychiatric work for some years and had been fairly recently married (for the first time) to Georgina, a retired nursing sister, who survives him.

He studied medicine at Edinburgh University (graduated MB Ch B 1947) and specialised in psychiatry early in his career, working at the Crichton Royal Hospital in Dumfries. Later on, during the 1970s, he became a consultant psychiatrist at Gogarburn Hospital in Edinburgh and subsequently — following the disastrous events surrounding the escape of a dangerous patient from there in 1985 — he was for some years the Medical Superintendent of Carstairs State Hospital.

A Unitarian and humanist and deeply conscientious man, Whittaker was interested in literature and comparative religion and worked unceasingly for reconciliation between people of different beliefs. He became particularly committed to the Council of Christians and Jews, on whose behalf he visited Israel several times.

He is much missed by everybody who had the privilege of knowing him.