He had a commanding and authoritative presence as a lecturer and advocate, he recognised that as a pioneer for PC he needed to be prepared to put his head above the parapet and for that we are most grateful.
A personal tribute to my colleague and friend Robert Twycross who died on 20th October 2024 – by Michael Minton
The younger generation may only know the name of R.G.Twycross. Robert was a huge pioneer over his 50-year career and established so much of Palliative Medicine that we know and teach today.
While a student in 1964 he had invited Dame Cicely Saunders to talk in Oxford. He later did his MD with Dame Cicely and thereafter became an ambassador for Palliative Care (PC).
He wrote most of the standard textbooks including “Introducing Palliative Care“ (now in its 6 th edition)which evolved from the innovative 5 day course that Robert established for the Oxford clinical medical students in the early 1980s before the medical specialty had been recognised (1987).
He was a brilliant teacher and mentor to a whole generation including myself. He was passionate and wholly committed to PC which took him around the world inspiring others to develop PC services.
He had a commanding and authoritative presence as a lecturer and advocate, he recognised that as a pioneer for PC he needed to be prepared to put his head above the parapet and for that we are most grateful.
He was always updating his ideas and developing new projects such as the PC Formulary. He would never give the same talk twice – it would be updated every time. He was an enthusiastic writer and commentator up to the end of his life. He would always be prepared to re edit, even up to 10 times, to satisfy his standards.
It was sometimes hard keeping up with him! So, we were always challenged but also inspired.
He taught that we should be psycho-physicians having attention to detail in all aspects of care. His mantra to “Review, Review, Review” should always be at the core of our responsibility as PC doctors.
I had the privilege of working with Robert for over 20 years and have seen at first hand the changes that he has influenced in the development of PC in the UK and abroad.
I encourage you to read some of the many tributes from around the world that identify his numerous contributions which included being a founder member of the Association of Palliative Medicine APM in 1985.
Michael Minton,
Oxford 22nd October 2024.
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