When the breath-by-breath gas exchange system (MedGraphics 2000), used to gather my Masters thesis project data with Dr. Glenn Gaesser, was moved to Professor Sue Ward’s laboratory in Anesthesiology, I went with it. Sue probably saw me just in a technical role as I knew the rather complex and finicky calibration routines. However, when she learned that I had taken Brian’s classes she seemed impressed. Subsequently, with Ged Gardner, Sue co-chaired my doctoral committee and Brian oversaw its theoretical development. On Fridays I would cycle the 27 miles down to Harbor-UCLA in Torrance to meet with Brian before seminar. Those were the toughest scientific meetings of my life. I would show a slide or present data and allude to mechanisms and Brian would fix me with those pale blue eyes and rapturous amused look. With penetrating logic he would remove all conjecture and woolly thinking from my thesis leaving only stark fact. In this I have never met Brian’s equal and I knew that if I could win his approval my thesis would stand any outside scrutiny. That, and the occasional adoption of a Whippian accent, gave me the confidence to take the scientific stage. Years later when I was awarded my Doctor of Science from Liverpool John Moores University the reason it meant so much to me was that Brian held that honour. My graduate students now endure as I did with Brian.
Last November, Brian and Sue hosted me for several marvelous days in Crickhowell. We walked the hills and vales met “rescued” donkeys and stopped in the local pubs for a drink and talked about the UCLA days, science and life. His range of knowledge and talents was truly extraordinary. To this day when faced with a seemingly intractable problem I often find myself asking “what would Brian do?” I know that I would never have become what I am without Brian - Doctor Mirabilis - and he will forever occupy a uniquely prominent place in my life and my science. This fiercely proud Welshman has set the highest of standards for generations of scientists to come.
David C Poole