News
Marking the Retirement of Dr Frank van Pelt
Colleagues from across the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, along with many friends from the wider University community, recently gathered to celebrate the retirement of Dr Frank van Pelt. The event, held on 15th August in the Western Gateway Building, was very well attended and reflected the high esteem in which Frank is held.
Frank joined the Department in October 1995 as a Lecturer in Toxicology/Biochemical Pharmacology and went on to serve as Head of Department, guiding the unit with integrity and vision. Over the years, he has been recognised for his teaching excellence, being a co-recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in both 2004 and again in 2023.
Beyond his formal roles, Frank has been a generous mentor to countless colleagues, a calm and reliable problem-solver, and the go-to person for IT support long before it was officially anyone’s job. His involvement in the BSc in Paramedic Studies has been instrumental in shaping the programme, ensuring its growth and success.
Frank’s creativity extended well beyond academia. Many colleagues will remember his homemade honey, shared generously over the years, and his striking photography, which continues to adorn homes, offices, Brookfield, and the walls of the North Mall Campus. His work has brought a sense of beauty and inspiration to the places in which we work.
The retirement gathering was an opportunity for colleagues, past and present, to thank Frank for his enormous contribution, to share fond memories, and to wish him every happiness in the next chapter of his life. His retirement truly marks the end of an era for the Department, but his legacy will remain visible for many years to come.