Alexander John Burnfield MBBS DPM FRCPsych 1944 - 2021
The MS Trust were deeply saddened to hear that former Trustee and dear friend, Sandy Burnfield passed away at the end of last week. Here Chris Jones, one of the founders of the MS Trust, pays tribute to his life and crucial work for people with multiple sclerosis.
Sandy was born in Winchester in 1944 and educated in Hampshire and Somerset. He qualified in medicine at the London Hospital Medical College (University of London) subsequently working at the Royal London Hospital. It was at this time that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and he changed direction to psychiatry, in the belief that it would be more accommodating to a potentially disabling condition. He was appointed as a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Wessex Region and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1972.
Sandy served for many years as a Trustee of The MS Trust; he was also an active member of the UK Multiple Sclerosis Society, and President of the Andover and Winchester Branches. He helped to found “Persons with MS International” and establish it as a central part of the MS International Federation (MSIF.) In these roles he was influential in championing the then unpopular view that the person with MS should be at the centre of their care rather than a silent recipient. With a particular interest in the emotional and relationship aspects of MS and disability, he was author of “Multiple Sclerosis: A Personal Exploration” (Souvenir Press, London) and of many other publications, including those on the psychological impact on children when a parent has MS.
He lived near the river Test in Hampshire with his wife Penny, and took great pride in his daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sandy’s interests were many and eclectic. A druid of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, a lover of animals and especially of Paso Fino horses, a smooth-gaited breed ideal for psychological and physical riding therapy. An interest in genetics led him to discover his paternal origins in Norse Vikings and on his maternal side a Finno-Ugric gene suggesting a connection to Siberia. Those of us lucky enough to know Sandy were unsurprised by that link to Vikings and Genghis Khan, though Sandy was a force for good rather than a warrior of the more conventional kind – the force that always led him to speak his mind and stand up for his beliefs, regardless of the the majority view.
It is usual in these circumstances to say, “It was a privilege to have known him”. I can’t think of anyone of whom that is more true. Sandy touched so many lives with his real interest in people, his championing of people with MS, his sense of humour and mischief, his intellectual curiosity and his wisdom. A true one-off who will be very sorely missed.
Chris Jones, Co-founder of the MS Trust
