Remembering Ivor Browne

Sir, – I was sad to learn about the recent death of Ivor Browne (”Groundbreaking Irish psychiatrist Ivor Browne dies at 94″, News, January 24th).

As medical students, he was one of the few who taught us how to think outside the rigid boxes we felt more comfortable keeping inside.

I remember once being on a ward round when Prof Browne came across a patient who had refused to speak since his admission to hospital. Unperturbed, Ivor Browne took a tin whistle out of an inside pocket, sat on the edge of the man’s bed, and played a tune – during which the man began to smile, and after which he spoke. Seeing this unfold (over 40 years ago) made a lasting impression on me. – Yours, etc,

CHRIS FITZPATRICK,