Written by Dr Margot McBride, research fellow at the University of St Andrews, UK Council and board member for the Society and College of Radiographers
It is with deep sadness that I am writing this obituary to pay my respects to my colleague and dear friend Marie Whyke who was born in 1942 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and died in August 2026.
Marie qualified as a radiographer in 1962, having studied at the School of Radiography, St. James’s Hospital, Leeds, and Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield. Her first post as a basic grade radiographer was at St James’s Hospital and she was promoted to senior radiographer in 1968.
(Image: Marie and Terry Whyke)
Marie married Terry Whyke, a mental health nurse and moved to Dallas, Texas, USA in 1971 where she took up the post of special procedures radiographer at the Presbyterian Hospital, Neuro Radiography Department.
Teaching radiography became her greatest passion, and in 1975 she accepted a post as instructor at the Radiologic Technology Programme at El Centro Junior College, Dallas.
On her return to the UK in 1979, Marie worked as a clinical instructor at the General Infirmary at Leeds, School of Radiography. I at the time was a senior radiographer in the A&E department, and Marie’s office was just across the corridor from the on-call room.
We became close friends, Marie providing me with my morning coffee, much needed after a hard night’s shift. Marie, of course, was just starting work and always looked amazing in her white uniform, she was indeed a role model for the students who were fortunate enough to have her as their clinical instructor.
I was asked by Brian Bently, principal of the school, to apply for her post as clinical instructor when she became a student teacher. Marie’s legacy will live on through the many students who she taught, she gave me the passion to pursue an academic career, and a lifelong love for learning and teaching.
From there, her rise to teacher, senior teacher, deputy principal and acting principal at the school was no surprise to me and her colleagues, and in 1991 she became director of Radiography Education. She went on to be deputy chief executive at Leeds College of Health, and finally in 1996 honorary associate dean at the University of Leeds, School of Healthcare Studies.
(Image: Marie Whyke)
Working with Marie was an experience that will live in my heart forever. She was knowledgeable, inspirational, kind, highly disciplined but always with a warm glint in her eyes. We also had the opportunity of working together in 2008 when she accepted a post as an external examiner for the HNC Assistant Practitioners in Diagnostic Radiography programme at Dundee College.
Marie leaves behind a husband who was dedicated to her care in the final years of her life, and their relationship was described at her funeral, which took place at Wakefield Crematorium on the 17 August, as the “love of her life.”
I met with Colin Beagrie after her funeral, who took up my post when I returned to Scotland, and he spoke fondly of his similar experiences of working with Marie and his wife Victoria, who was also a student teacher at Leeds.
Our friendship spanned 44 years, but it seems like only yesterday that Marie was knocking at the on-call room door, cup in hand. But it wasn’t just coffee; it was kindness, caring for a colleague and a desire to share experiences of life, love and the joys and rewards of being a radiographer.
RIP my dearest friend.