The BSH was saddened to learn of the death of former president Professor Eric Preston on Tuesday 7th January 2025.
Eric Preston was born in 1935 and qualified in medicine from the University of Liverpool in 1963. After initial service as a medic with the British Army in Germany, he devoted most of his professional life specialising in haemostasis and thrombosis in Sheffield.
He was a firm believer in the principle that optimal care is delivered through a unit that combines a research active clinical service with a clinical haemostasis and thrombosis laboratory that is also research active. He succeeded in establishing Sheffield as an international centre of excellence in the field.
Among his most impactful contributions were the demonstration that the hepatitis seen in persons with haemophilia could reflect severe disease, the association between thrombophilia and pregnancy complications and the introduction of prothrombin complex concentrates for the emergency reversal of warfarin anticoagulation.
For 27 years he was the clinical lead of the Sheffield haemostasis and thrombosis laboratory which remained separate from general haematology, providing all tests in-house and serving as a referral centre for much of England. Laboratory staff were encouraged to also undertake research alongside their NHS duties and to present their findings at national and international meetings.
In 1992 Professor Preston became Chair of UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation and the service moved to Sheffield where it has remained since. He initiated national participant meetings and the service expanded internationally, providing external quality assessment for almost every coagulation assay including near patient testing and global assays. He founded the World Federation of Haemophilia International External Quality Assurance Scheme which assisted haemophilia centres in low and middle income countries in their efforts to improve patient care.
Outside medicine Professor Preston was an avid Manchester United fan and as a season ticket holder attended every home game until he was no longer able to drive to Manchester from Sheffield due to his failing eye sight.
He leaves a widow Mo, and daughters Anna, Sally and Stephanie.
We extend our condolences to Professor Preston’s family and friends at this sad time.
Written by Professor Mike Makris and Steve Kitchen