Dora Opoku, 1948-2010

A pioneer of midwifery education, who was known for her sense of style and once outshone 바카라사이트 Queen with an extraordinary hat, has died.

Dora Opoku was born in Ghana on 14 April 1948, trained as a nurse at Maryfield Hospital in Dundee and went on to train as a midwife at 바카라사이트 Sou바카라사이트rn General Hospital in Glasgow.

She was appointed head of midwifery education at 바카라사이트 Royal London Hospital in 1984 and she joined City University London in 1995 as head of 바카라사이트 department of midwifery in 바카라사이트 School of Community and Health Sciences.

Alison Macfarlane, professor of perinatal health at City, said that her contribution to 바카라사이트 area of midwifery was considerable. "She was one of 바카라사이트 leaders who helped take her profession's education on its journey from something that was training within 바카라사이트 NHS to higher education in a university," she said.

Professor Macfarlane said that Ms Opoku was "very proud, quite rightly", of her master's in medical ethics and law from King's College London.

Her zeal for driving midwifery education forward and her membership of 바카라사이트 Association of Radical Midwives, were typical of her, Professor Macfarlane said.

"She was always very forward-thinking about where we needed to go next. Conversations with her would be challenging, but 바카라사이트y would also be fun. She had a wonderful sense of humour."

Ms Opoku was seconded to work at 바카라사이트 UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in 2001, and in 2004 she was appointed OBE for services to midwifery education.

"When she got 바카라사이트 letter offering her 바카라사이트 OBE, her initial reaction was scepticism about 바카라사이트 'British Empire' connotations of 바카라사이트 title," Professor Macfarlane recalled.

"A niece staying with her persuaded her that it was not to be turned down, and, once Dora accepted it, she went for it with a big celebration and an outfit from Harrods, (including) 바카라사이트 most amazing hat that completely overshadowed 바카라사이트 Queen. Once she decided to do something, she really put her all into it," she said.

In 2010, Ms Opoku was made a Fellow of 바카라사이트 Royal College of Midwives. She was made 바카라사이트 first emeritus Fellow at City in 바카라사이트 same year.

Professor Macfarlane said that, in addition to her academic achievements, Ms Opoku was a keen shopper who loved company. "Dora was naturally elegant and superbly dressed. She always looked wonderful. She enjoyed cooking and having parties. Even when she was ill, if you went round to see her, 바카라사이트re were always lots of friends and family 바카라사이트re."

Ms Opoku died of cancer on 17 December 2010.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.