British Computer Society appoints Honorary Fellows

The pair received their certificates at a ceremony at the BCS London offices in recognition of their valuable contributions in shaping the role BCS has played in key areas.

The title of Honorary Fellow is awarded to individuals who have given outstanding service to the Society over a sustained period of time.

David Clarke, BCS chief executive says: "Glyn and Roy have led the debate in their respective interest areas over the many decades they have been involved with the BCS, helping us become one of the most foremost authorities on areas such as health informatics, geo-spatial technology, cybernetics, and using technology to help people with disabilities, among many others. Awarding them BCS Honorary Fellowships acknowledges the tremendous voluntary contribution these two high-profile members have made to help society at large to realise the benefits of information technology."

Dr Hayes was one of the first GPs during the late 1970s to use a computer in patient consultations, and the first to try and develop a commercial system with consulting room capability, while still maintaining the precious doctor/patient relationship. His pioneering work on the use of computers for patient interviewing during the 1980s led him to become the founding member, chair, and later, president of the BCS Primary Health Care Specialist Group - a role he still holds. He subsequently became chair of the BCS Health Informatics Forum. He has recently been elected as the secretary general of the European Institute for Health Records (EUROREC).

Dr Hayes is the undisputed elder statesman of primary care informatics and his quiet counsel has been important, not just to longstanding colleagues, but also to many new health informaticians who have taken up senior roles in both the BCS and NHS IT. He now works tirelessly in a voluntary capacity promoting professionalism in health informatics. A clear and obvious expression of this work is the development of UKCHIP.

Roy Newell, a founder member of the BCS, has been an active member for 50 years. Over the years Roy has been involved with many aspects of the Society, including many specialist groups, several of which he has been instrumental in establishing. He helped found the Sussex branch over 50 years ago, and was awarded a BCS Award in 2004 for his outstanding services for it.

Roy is currently working within the BCS on a climate change and green issues strategy.This supports his work in the wider community developing awareness and promoting effective action to deal with such issues.

In addition, he is a founder member of PITCOM (Parliamentary IT Committee) liaising with the then Department of Trade and Industry in John Major's government. He is also an active member of the Associate Parliamentary Maritime Group, an early member of the Real Time Club, a founder member of the Sussex Microcomputer Group, and was an active member of JAPONITE (Joint Advisory Panel for IT in Education). He has also held significant roles in QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority), AGI (Association for Geographic Information), BETT (British Education Technology and Training) and IMIS, where he has promoted BCS interests and activities.

During the last decade of his career he was a senior lecturer in the computing department of the London South Bank University, where he had responsibility for the courses for the resettlement of MoD staff.

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