Introduction

Dietitians have always cultivated links with other professions and have invited luminaries in other, linked, fields to become Honorary Associates of the Association. In 1964, Council agreed that the Association would benefit from having an Honorary President, and accordingly invited Sir Norman Wright to take up this office.

YEAR NAME SHORT BIOGRAPHY
1964 Sir Norman Wright Sir Norman C. Wright had been Chief Scientific Adviser at the Ministry of Food (later MAFF), from 1947 to 1959.  He was Director General of FAO, U.N., from 1959 to 1963.  Sir Norman was an eminent scientist interested in all aspects of food science, but especially in Food and Agriculture.
1969 Sir Ronald Tunbridge After Sir Norman Wright's five year term ended, Sir Ronald Tunbridge accepted the Association's invitation to be Honorary President, from 1969 to 1974. Sir Ronald Tunbridge was Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Leeds University and a good friend to dietitians.  His particular medical interest was diabetes, which led him to value the dietitians particular knowledge.  He did much to advance the cause of dietitians in general and to develop the Dietetic Department at Leeds General Infirmary in particular.
1974 Sir John Croom Sir John Croom, previously known as Dr J. Halliday Croom, was knighted during his term as Honorary President, from 1974 to 1979.  Sir John was Consultant Physician at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, specialising in diabetes. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and a member of the Dietitians Board. After his term of office as Honorary President ended, Sir John agreed to continue as a Trustee of the Association, because of his interest in its affairs.  He retired as Trustee early in 1985.
1979
1984		 Dr Russell Allen Dr Russell Allen accepted the invitation to become Honorary President of the BDA in 1979 and delighted the Association by agreeing, in 1984, to accept a second term of office.  Dr Allen is an eminent biochemist with particular interest in nutrition and nutrition education.  He was Visiting Professor of Applied Nutrition at Guy's Hospital Medical and Dental Schools, in addition to his post as a Director of Beecham Group pic.  Dr Allen has been connected with the Association over many years, as Chairman of the Dietitians Board and as a constant source of encouragement, advice and help to dietitians individually and collectively.
1989
1992
1994
1999
2004 		Dame Barbara Clayton Professor Dame Barbara Clayton. Barbara Clayton is Honorary Research Professor in Metabolism in the University's School of Medicine. Amongst a catalogue of national and international awards, appointments and honours she is Honorary President of the British Nutrition Foundation, Chairman of the Medical/Scientific Panel of the Leukaemia Research Fund, Past President of the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection and now Vice-President, Vice-President of the Caroline Walker Trust, Past President of the Royal College of Pathologists from 1984 to 1987, appointed by the Secretary of State for Health to the Standing Committee on Postgraduate Education for Doctors, awarded the British Medical Association's gold medal for distinguished merit, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Biology and Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Dame Barbara has been at the forefront of pioneering the roles of women within medicine and has been an international voice on the importance of diet and nutrition.
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