Ramaiah Sampangi Ramaiah

Ramaiah Sampangi Ramaiah (“Sam”) accomplished his life’s journey from Yelethotadapalya, near Bangalore, India, where he was born, to Sutton Coldfield in the English Midlands with elegant ease, making the transition across continents and cultures in sumptuous style, acquiring new tastes and revelling in the culture and customs of his adopted homeland while retaining an ardent almost passionate affection for all things Indian. After junior doctor posts in Wales, he took up a career in public health medicine, where his easy manner with colleagues and a natural talent for leadership allowed him to flourish. He rose to become district medical officer in South Tees and then in 1993 was appointed Walsall’s first director of public health. He held this post with great distinction, establishing a unique style of leadership, making literally hundreds of friends in the health and local authorities and beyond, becoming in the process the most recognisable public face in local circles till his unexpected and untimely death. Over the 17 years he served as Walsall’s director of …