Sir Maurice Laing (1918–2008)

Sir Maurice Laing died on 22 February 2008 at his home in London. The obituary in The Times (28 February 2008) listed the many posts in industry which Sir Maurice held during his long, busy and hugely successful professional life, and described him as determined, shrewd, enterprising and generous. Those with an interest in CAM knew Sir Maurice not as the construction tycoon described in the UK daily papers but as one of the world’s most outstanding supporters of CAM. I grew to admire him as a man with ideals, vision and kindness. His two endowments formed the financial basis for our ‘Exeter chair’. He also gave crucial financial support to the CAM groups in Southampton and Baltimore.

When I was appointed in 1993, there was a press conference. Sir Maurice attended and listened keenly. One journalist asked: ‘Professor Ernst, how are you going to deal with the scepticism of your medical colleagues?’ I hesitated and, looking anxiously at Maurice, answered: ‘Easy, I’ll be more sceptical than they are.’ Sir Maurice laughed and I was relieved. Not once during our many meetings that followed over the next decade would he attempt to persuade me to be less sceptical or less critical. This, to me, shows the greatness of the man better than anything else. He was convinced that CAM was essentially a very good thing but, at the same time, he had the foresight to know that the field needed critical assessment more than uncritical promotion. Sir Maurice became a good friend. I will miss him, and so will many others in CAM.