Dr Alan Godfrey Clews was born on 24 March 1929 in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and died at his home in Victoria on 18 January 2013. Dr Clews graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1952 with an MBChB and later earned a D(Obst)RGOC in London. After working in general practice in England he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Singapore, Taiping, Malaya, and Libya.

Dr Clews moved to Canada in 1958 to practise in small towns in Saskatchewan and then as part of a group in Saskatoon. There he became involved in general practice research for the Canadian College of General Practice, Saskatchewan Chapter. He was co-chair of the Saskatchewan Research Committee and also served on the National Research Committee, becoming chair from 1971 to 1974. In Saskatoon he helped develop drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Moving to Victoria in 1975, he co-founded the Victoria Life Enrichment Society and served as director of its residential treatment centre. He worked with Doctors of BC on policies regarding the use of seatbelts and helmets, and drunk driving.

Honors received by Dr Clews include a fellowship and a life membership in the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and an award for excellence in research.

In addition to medicine, Dr Clews had a love of language and the arts. He became involved in plays and with music, and he often entertained his family. Acting as Professor Higgins in a production of My Fair Lady was a highlight for him. He enjoyed hiking and watersports well into his 70s. He ran a marathon in his 50s and completed a triathlon at 70. Exploring the West Coast gave him respect for First Nations culture, and he took on locums in remote First Nations communities after his retirement.

Alan was predeceased by his exceptional wife, Hetty, and leaves behind a large extended family.
—William Falk, MD
Sidney