Fernand Lechat—1895–1959

The Belgian Psycho-Analytical Society has recently suffered the untimely loss of its President, Fernard Lechat, after a short illness. In him it loses not only one of its pioneers but also one of its most valued members.

Born at Mont-sur-Marchienne in 1895, Fernand Lechat was 19 at the outbreak of the First World War. During the fighting he was badly injured in the legs and left for dead on the battlefield, but recovered and later re-enlisted without hesitation. His numerous decorations are a testimony to his courage. After the war, with his characteristic energy he went into business, but although successful found it was not what he wanted. His temperament, so open to all that was human, led him naturally to the study of other people's problems, with the hope of being able to help them. Attracted by depth psychology, he studied this together with applied psychology, in which he was intensely interested.

During the time when Dr Hoffmann, a pupil of Freud, was staying in Belgium Lechat undertook a professional analysis with him. He then went on to Paris for further work with Dr Leuba and Mme Marie Bonaparte, and was admitted as an associate and later a full member of the Psycho-Analytic Society of Paris.

In January 1947, with M. Dugautiez and Mme Lechat, he founded the Belgian Association of Psycho-Analysts. With his perseverance and unrivalled energy he was able to disseminate Freud's theories in Belgium and to attract young psychiatrists to this new therapy. The task of directing the work of the Association fell mainly on Lechat, who devoted himself to it wholeheartedly, both by writing and lecturing and by editing the Socitey's Bulletin and directing the seminars. He was always at the service of his colleagues, young analysts and patients, to whom his time and energy were unstintingly devoted. As an active participant at every Psycho-Analytical Congress, his verve and warmth made him many friends. When, in 1958, he became President of the Belgian Psycho-A