Consultant Nephrologist (b 1951; q Nottingham 1975,DM 1984, FRCP 1993), died from carcinoma of the pancreas 14 April 2026).

Robert (known to many as Bob) was a twin. He was born in Manchester, initially educated in Austria, Egypt, Cyprus and West Germany before returning to England in 1964 to complete secondary education.

Bob was a pioneer. In 1970 he was proud to be in the first cohort of 48 medical students at Nottingham and took full advantage of the new medical school’s unique opportunities. After medical posts in Nottingham and Salford, he undertook specialty training in Nephrology at Manchester and Sheffield.

In 1985 he was appointed Consultant Physician in Preston where, as the first Nephrologist, he established the haemodialysis unit. Over the next 30 years, Bob oversaw the expansion of the department into a hub unit, five satellite units, a home therapy service, ten peripheral out-patient clinics and transplant services for Lancashire and South Cumbria. From nothing, the service today benefits 1.6 million people providing care to almost 700 dialysis and 1000 transplant recipients. Preston is the largest non-transplant Renal Service in the UK. He achieved this by being both determined and well-informed. His vision was to bring specialist services to patients rather than patients to the service.

He had unwavering resolve and boundless energy. He undertook many management roles. He chaired the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee and became the Lead for Trust and Regional Renal Audit and the Renal Network. He was appointed Clinical Director of Renal Medicine in 2004.

As an enthusiastic educator, he became a Royal College of Physicians Tutor, Regional Advisor for Medicine, National Specialist Registrar Adviser, College Councillor, and a member of the Clinical Senate. He became FRCP in 1993 and was hugely respected in the College community for his valuable contributions. As the first Head of the School of Medicine for the Northwest Deanery, Bob expertly steered the turbulent waters of Modernising Medical Careers.

In 1984 he completed a DM on Myeloma and the Kidney. He wrote or co-authored 25 papers and gave almost 50 presentations on a wide range of topics at national and international meetings.

Despite his many achievements and illegible handwriting, Bob was always an active general physician. He remained approachable and well-liked by his colleagues, nurses, other staff, students, and patients. 

He retired in 2015 following a brief illness. In retirement he was an avid volunteer gardener at Dunham Massey for ten years. He was an enthusiastic traveller and photographer leaving over 250,000 photographs from most of the countries in the world.

Bob was part of a select group of Manchester renal physicians who can say to have played cricket against Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Farokh Engineer, Sir Clive Lloyd as well as Nobby Stiles!

His legacy will be recognised by the new renal unit in Blackpool which will bear his name.

Bob always enjoyed attending first year Nottingham Reunions where he took the photographs. He will be missed by his friends and colleagues. He is survived, by his wife, Stephanie, a Palliative Care Consultant, his brother Frank and his son, Thomas, a Classicist.

Laurie Solomon, John Anderton, Stephanie Gomm, Thomas Coward