Sir Martin Roth FRS: an appreciation.

Since the mid-19th century central Europe had been the cradle of conceptual thinking had been the cradle of conceptual thinking in clinical psychiatry. Following the turbu-in clinical psychiatry. Following the turbulence and persecution in the 1920s and lence and persecution in the 1920s and 1930s some of a later generation of mid-1930s some of a later generation of mid-European psychiatrists emigrated to Britain, European psychiatrists emigrated to Britain, bringing with them the traditions of meti-bringing with them the traditions of meticulous and detailed observation, a broad culous and detailed observation, a broad clinical perspective and fresh ways of clinical perspective and fresh ways of looking at problems. Among those individ-looking at problems. Among those individuals making significant contributions were uals making significant contributions were In this Appreciation, bearing in mind In this Appreciation, bearing in mind that Martin Roth was not given to talking that Martin Roth was not given to talking freely about his own experiences and feel-freely about his own experiences and feelings , we have used some of his own words, ings, we have used some of his own words, spoken on those rare occasions when he spoken on those rare occasions when he revealed more of himself than usual, as he revealed more of himself than usual, as he did on the occasion of the celebration on did on the occasion of the celebration on his 80th birthday or when interviewed by his 80th birthday or when interviewed by one of us (A.K.). one of us (A.K.). Martin Roth's decision to embark on a Martin Roth's decision to embark on a career in medicine arose out of 'the neces-career in medicine arose out of 'the necessity to qualify at something I could make sity to qualify at something I could make a living at'. He had considered becoming a living at'. He had considered becoming a musician at the age of 13 or 14 but felt a musician at the age of 13 or 14 but felt he couldn't afford to take the risk. Never-he couldn't afford to take the risk. Nevertheless , when a medical student, his talent theless, when a medical student, his talent enabled him to play the organ at weddings enabled him to play the organ at weddings and the piano for ballet classes, providing and the piano for ballet classes, providing much-needed financial assistance at the much-needed financial assistance at the …