JBL Ainsworth

The Homeopathic community has lost a great supporter in the passing of JBL Ainsworth FRPharmS FFHom (Hon). who died peacefully in the early hours of Friday, 31 August 2007 at Kingsacre Nursing Home in Devon, the county in which he was born in 1919. He made an outstanding contribution to homeopathic pharmacy for more than 30 years.

John began reading for a degree in Chemistry at Kings College London and Bristol, but with the outbreak of the Second World War his studies were interrupted and he joined the Devon Regiment in Exeter. Commissioned in 1940 he moved to the Staffordshire Regiment and subsequently saw action in North Africa and Italy with the Eighth Army. He returned to the UK in January 1944 and was then posted to northwest Europe shortly after D Day. John sustained a serious leg wound that was to trouble him for the rest of his life, and was finally invalided out the army during the following year.

John's wife Peggy, whom he married in 1942, had a family connection with Dudley Everitt, a Director of A Nelson and Company, homeopathic pharmacists of Duke Street, London and he secured employment there. He took a 2-year pharmacy course with the aid of a government grant for interrupted studies and joined the register on 22 July 1949, after completing the required pre-registration year at Nelson's. John stayed with the company for many years eventually becoming a Director. Following the tragic death of his two fellow Directors, Mr and Mrs Dudley Everitt in a plane crash in 1972, and the subsequent sale of Nelson's to the Truth Research Foundation John opened his own homeopathic pharmacy on 6 June 1978 in New Cavendish Street, London with a staff of 6. The grant of Royal Warrants to H.M. the Queen and H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother soon followed.

From 1978 until John's retirement in April 1989 (when the staff had grown to 56), Ainsworth's Homeopathic Pharmacy prospered and enjoyed considerable professional and public support. The pharmacy served 3 Royal physicians, Dr Margery Blackie, Dr Charles Elliott and Dr Ronald Davey and a host of other influential clients and celebrities as well as members of the public in the UK and overseas.

John supported the work of the British Homeopathic Association enthusiastically throughout his professional life, joining its Council in 1955 and serving as Treasurer for many years, before being elected Life President in 1992. He was also a Council Member of the Homeopathic Trust. John was instrumental in promoting homeopathy at a time when consumers were beginning to ask questions about the safety of orthodox medicines. He organized courses for pharmacists through the BHA and encouraged the OTC supply of homeopathic medicines. John and Peggy contributed to BHA Roadshows around the country; I recall that the events were accompanied by much fun and laughter (for the presenters!) but were also very effective in spreading the idea of responsible and appropriate use of homeopathy. In Europe John was President of the International Homoeopathic Pharmacists Committee (CIPH) for 3 consecutive years and UK member of CIPH Scientific Commission where he contributed to early work on the European Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia.

His important contribution to homeopathy was acknowledged through the award of a Fellowship by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 1992.

I knew John Ainsworth for more than 40 years. On a personal level I greatly appreciated his willingness to share his extensive knowledge and his great support during my formative years as a newly qualified pharmacist. His dry wit and storytelling skills were greatly enjoyed by all. John is survived by his three children Vivienne, Hilary and Philip to whom his colleagues express their deepest sympathy.