Working for a tobacco-free Scotland
11 October 2010
ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy today paid tribute to the life and work of Dr Eileen Crofton MBE, a founder member of ASH Scotland who died on Friday 8 October in Edinburgh aged 91. Commenting, Ms Duffy said:
"Dr Eileen Crofton, along with her late husband Dr John Crofton was a tireless campaigner for tobacco control and for smoke-free public places long before it became legislation.
"Both Eileen and John both played a key role in founding ASH Scotland in 1973 with Eileen becoming the first Director. She remained an active supporter and kept in regular contact. I have always appreciated her advice and support for the work that she started, and we have continued.
"Last year, the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), in partnership with ASH Scotland presented the inaugural Crofton Award in recognition of the achievement of young people in reducing tobacco and smoking-related harm in Scotland and in honour of Sir John and Lady Eileen Crofton's tireless work over the decades in tobacco control.
"Eileen Crofton was also very involved in tobacco and how it impacted on the health of women and set up the ASH women's committee in 1984 and remained its convener until 1990. This organisation later developed into the International Network of Women Against Tobacco (INWAT).
"Eileen also wrote the critically acclaimed book ' The Women of Royaumont: a Scottish Women's Hospital on the Western Front' about the hard work and devotion of the women of the Scottish Women's Hospitals, headed by Dr Elsie Inglis of Edinburgh, who worked during the First World War for the French Medical Service. Published in 1997, Eileen gave several lectures on the subject around the UK.
"I am thankful that someone so dedicated brought the impact of smoking on the health of people in Scotland and elsewhere to wider public attention. She made a major contribution to the work of tobacco control throughout her.
"Eileen will be greatly missed, and the thoughts of everyone at ASH Scotalnd are with her family."
Lady Eileen Crofton was born Eileen Mercer in 1919. Along with her husband Sir John Crofton, she was a tireless campaigner for tobacco control.
Lady Eileen helped set up Action on Smoking and Health in 1971 under the auspices of the Royal College of Physicians and in 1973 ASH Scotland was inaugurated with Eileen appointed as the first Director (at that time called Medical Secretary) until 1984. Eileen worked consistently to raise awareness about the harm caused by smoking and for increased tobacco regulation. With all materials produced by ASH Scotland, Eileen insisted on the highest standards of accuracy and evidence. Eileen and John Crofton campaigned for a ban on smoking in public places long before it became legislation, with Eileen saying, "The secret was keeping it in the public eye".
Eileen Crofton was awarded an MBE on her retirement in 1984 and continued to speak and lecture about smoking and campaign for a public places smoking ban long afterwards, remaining an active supporter of ASH Scotland. Eileen had a particular interest in women's health and tobacco and set up the ASH women's committee in 1984 and remained its convener until 1990. This organisation later developed into the International Network of Women Against Tobacco (INWAT). She campaigned hard to show to medical and other organisations that tobacco was becoming as important a health issue for women as men.
Eileen also had a busy personal life. She met and married John Crofton (former Prof of Respiratory Diseases at the University of Edinburgh who became well known for developing a new and effective multi-drug treatment for tuberculosis) in 1945 and the couple had two sons and three daughters, and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren. On moving to Edinburgh in 1952, Eileen and John were a sociable couple who had a wide interest in the arts and culture as well as many health issues. Sir John Crofton died on 3 November 2009.
Eileen completed her medical degree at Somerville College, Oxford in 1943. After a year in a local hospital she joined the Royal Medical Corps as a Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain. She was posted to Northern Ireland which is where she met John Crofton. Eileen was proud of her association with Somerville and kept in touch with the college and alumni. After a career break when she had her children, she undertook research into the epidemiology of heart disease.
Eileen's critically acclaimed book 'The Women of Royaumont: a Scottish Women's Hospital on the Western Front' about the hard work and devotion of the women of the Scottish Women's Hospitals, headed by Dr Elsie Inglis of Edinburgh, who worked during the First World War for the French Medical Service was published in 1997 and Eileen gave several lectures on the subject around the UK.
In 2008, the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), in partnership with ASH Scotland launched the Crofton Award in recognition of the achievement of young people in reducing tobacco and smoking-related harm in Scotland and in honour of Sir John and Lady Eileen Crofton's tireless work over the decades in tobacco control. The inaugural awards, with total prize money of £1500, were presented in November 2009.
Lady Eileen died peacefully at home on 8 October 2010 aged 91.
ENDS
For more information please contact Jeanette Campbell on 0131 220 9466.
Notes for Editors
Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland) is a registered Scottish charity (SC 010412) and a company limited by guarantee(Scottish company no 141711). The registered office is 8 Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HB.
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