Andrew Hart Lockie

Dr Andrew Hart Lockie 2nd March 1947–30th April 2004

It is with great sadness that I write of the sudden death of Dr Andrew Lockie aged 57, at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford on Friday morning 30th April 2004.

Andy Lockie, as he was known to most of us, was born in Glasgow and grew up as an only child in the central lowlands of Scotland. He studied Medicine at Aberdeen University and moved to London after graduation to study at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital where he gained his membership of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 1974. After a short stint in NHS general practice in Oxfordshire, Andy went back into hospital work to gain his diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and certificate in Family Planning before returning to general practice in the New Forest to gain his membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

In 1978, Andy returned to London to open his first homeopathic practice in Ealing. Once successfully established, he opened two branch surgeries in Surrey and was then invited to become medical director of Enton Hall, a leading natural health centre in the UK at that time. There Andy developed his interest in naturopathy and dietary approaches to healing, a blend that was to significantly influence his own holistic approach to treating illness.

Andy proceeded to establish a very successful private practice at Guildford in integrated medicine—in which he enlisted the services of a homeopathic colleague, Dr Nuria Booth, as well as a counsellor, a chartered physiotherapist, an acupuncturist and chinese herbalist, a nutritionist, a Pilates teacher and a personal trainer, all ably run by his practice manager Pat Webb. Latterly the practice had expanded to two satellite locations in Harley Street and Loxwood. Not only working on the ground, but also in cyber space, Andy's website was, and is, a leader in its field for patient help, ease of navigation, and excellence of design.

Despite his busy practice, Andy also became a popular and able teacher of others. As a founder member of the Homeopathic Physician's Teaching Group in 1992, he taught homeopathy to doctors with the partnership in Oxford for the next 5 years, as well as becoming homeopathic consultant to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. He wrote numerous articles for both the medical and lay press, invariably championing homeopathy on behalf of the Faculty as its appointed press officer against a sometimes hostile press. In a rather publicity shy profession, Andy courageously stood out by his willingness to engage with the media and speak up for homeopathy and its place in integrated medicine. He also made many radio and TV appearances, one notably as guest homeopathic doctor on the Pete Murray Show on LBC.

As if this were not enough, Andy also wrote and successfully produced five books within 11 years: The Family Guide to Homeopathy, Elm Tree Books, 1989; The Women's Guide to Homeopathy (co-author Dr Nicola Geddes), Hamish Hamilton, 1992; The Complete Guide to Homeopathy (co-author Dr Nicola Geddes), Dorling Kindersley, 1995; The Natural Diet (co-author Jeanette Marshall), Penguin, 1997; The Encyclopaedia of Homeopathy, Dorling Kindersley, 2000.

A Service of Thanksgiving for Andy's Life was held at Guildford Cathedral on Monday 17th May, attended by well over 400 members of his family, friends, medical and homeopathic colleagues and patients. During the service, a tribute was given by his friend and medical colleague, Dr David Owen, who spoke of Andy's rich and full home and family life with his wife Babs and their four children on the one hand, and on the other his productive and at times hectic professional life. He praised Andy for so courageously charting his own medical path outside the usual career structures of his day; his tenacious thoroughness and patience in homeopathic prescribing; his care and compassion for anyone in trouble, as well as his ever-ready sense of humour. For relaxation he would often play his guitar and would be remembered by many of his students not only for lecturing without notes but also for singing without them!

Without doubt, Andy had that winning combination of passion and determination to succeed that made him play hard and work hard at what he believed in, managing to pack so much into his all too short life. He achieved his aim of establishing homeopathic practice within a broad integrated medical approach, using a skilled multidisciplinary team. Through his writing, Andy successfully converted the sometimes archaic language of old homeopathic texts into modern terms easily accessible to the general public—a feat of industry which has without doubt contributed greatly to the further popular spread of homeopathy and its growing legitimacy as a scientific discipline in the eyes of the medical profession as a whole.

Fittingly in 2002, in recognition of his work, Andy was awarded Fellowship of the Faculty of Homeopathy, an achievement of which he was justifiably proud.

Andy is survived by his wife Babs, and their four children, David, Kirsty, Alastair and Sandy. Our heart felt thoughts are with them all at this time.