Obituary

George Stritch Moran, Director of the Anna Freud Centre since October 1987, and Editor of our journal since 1984, died of motor neurone disease in Naples, Florida, on January 23 at the age of 40. No one in the field of child psychoanalysis achieved greater distinction in so short a time.

At the age of 22, he applied for training at the Centre (at that time known as the Hampstead Child Psychotherapy Course and Clinic). He came with excellent qualifications, including a first class honours degree in psychology with high commendations from the University of Colorado. His application was rejected on the grounds of his youth and insufficient experience. Undeterred, for the next two years he applied himself diligently to the broadening of his clinical work and practice, and reapplied. It was during this period of intense industry that his work in the Mother and Baby Unit at Shenley Hospital, in England, also afforded him a special insight into the field of general psychiatry - an abiding interest that ran deep. On acceptance, he spent two years as an interne in clinical psychology at Wayne State University, gaining an MA before beginning his training at the Centre.

Those who interviewed him, when he was still only 24, for admission to the Centre recognized other qualities besides his scholastic and professional abilities. These led him from being an unusually gifted student, to a valued staff member who was already making significant contributions to scientific journals and then, at the age of 36, to his appointment as Director. Many within the profession doubted whether someone without considerable seniority and - at that time - international standing could shoulder such a heavy burden of responsibility. But their misgivings were quickly dispelled. Moran brought to the task a rare combination of skills and expertise: clinical, scientific, administrative and financial, to name the more obvious; and he applied them with unceasing vigour and sustained determination.

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