BHF pays tribute to former Director, Major General Leslie Busk

Under his visionary leadership, the BHF expanded from a respected research funder into a national force for cardiovascular health, advocacy, and patient support. 

 

Brand-new research buildings were made possible, and equipped with technology including vital MRI machines, using BHF funding under Major General Busk’s leadership.

 

Fellowships given to researchers doing vital lifesaving research were increased, and we championed training people to perform CPR and the roll-out of publicly available defibrillators.

During his leadership, Major General Busk played a significant role in securing substantial funding from the Department of Health to fund an anti-smoking campaign.

 

The striking image of a cigarette dripping fat, to highlight the fatty build-up which smoking causes in the arteries, was part of a national TV and poster campaign in partnership with the Department of Health, which was estimated to lead to more than 14,000 smokers quitting.

Our Chief Executive, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, paid tribute: “We are deeply saddened to hear the news that Leslie has passed away.  As BHF Director General from 1990 to 2004, and a lifelong supporter, we are grateful for his dedicated service and his enduring personal support for our lifesaving science.

 

“It was a privilege to have known him - a sentiment I know will be shared by many people in our wider BHF community, whom I know will join me in offering our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones at this time.”  

 

Professor Bryan Williams, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, said: “As a younger investigator, I recall the huge respect everyone at the BHF had for Leslie.    

 

“He leaves an impressive legacy, having made an important and lasting contribution to BHF that has made it the organisation it is today.” 

Professor Charles George, our former Medical Director from 1999 to 2005, spoke to Major General Busk every day, with the pair nicknamed ‘the dynamic duo’ by colleagues.

 

Professor George said: “Leslie was a true gentleman who always had a twinkle in his eye.   “He was driven to raise the profile of the BHF and helped raise public awareness and money for vital research, but he also had a sense of mischief.” 

 

Major General Busk was married to BHF Chairholder the late Professor Glennis Haworth, a world-leading researcher investigating pulmonary hypertension in children and seeking to improve diagnosis and treatment of the rare condition. He was also Director of the Association of Medical Research Charities.

 

He is survived by his wife Rosie, children and grandchildren.