Campbell, Robert Clark (1931 - 2015)
by
 
George Lamberty

Asset Name
E008073 - Campbell, Robert Clark (1931 - 2015)

Title
Campbell, Robert Clark (1931 - 2015)

Author
George Lamberty

Identifier
RCS: E008073

Publisher
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England

Publication Date
2015-09-15
 
2016-12-22

Subject
Medical Obituaries

Description
Obituary for Campbell, Robert Clark (1931 - 2015), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Language
English

Source
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows

Full Name
Campbell, Robert Clark

Date of Birth
31 January 1931

Place of Birth
Dundee

Date of Death
13 June 2015

Occupation
Plastic surgeon
 
Plastic and reconstructive surgeon

Titles/Qualifications
MB ChB Aberdeen 1955
 
FRCS 1963
 
FRCS Edin 1963

Details
Robert Clark Campbell (known as 'Bob') was a consultant plastic surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. He was born in Dundee on 31 January 1931, the only son of Archibald and Agnes Campbell. Following school in Dundee and then Southampton, he decided upon a career in medicine and he graduated MB ChB from Aberdeen University in 1955. He met his wife to be Sally in Aberdeen and they married in December 1956 in Hamburg while he was serving in the RAMC as part of his National Service. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and of Edinburgh in 1963. In 1964 he was appointed as a plastic surgical registrar at the West Norwich Hospital, working with two consultants, Frank Innes and George Joss. He was then appointed as a senior registrar in Leeds, working under the tutelage of Mortimer Shaw and during the latter part of his term he became an acting consultant in Wakefield, where he developed an interest in burns surgery. In 1968 he was awarded an appointment to work for a year with Ralph Millard in Miami, where he developed his further interest in cleft lip and palate surgery. In 1971 he was appointed as the first consultant plastic surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. The service until that time had been provided by Frank Innes, who visited from Norwich on a weekly basis. Bob worked as the sole consultant at the old Addenbrooke's Hospital with only two senior house officers to help him and this continued from 1971 until 1982, when I was appointed as his colleague. During the 10 years when he was on his own he carried out a wide range of plastic surgical procedures, but he always had a particular interest in both burns and in cleft lip and palate surgery. It was a privilege to work with Bob on many occasions doing combined cases and he was the most meticulous surgeon with an exacting attention to detail, however, Bob was not always the most meticulous time keeper. His lists sometimes started a little late but often continued late! In those days, it was possible to do these things without the pressures of administration and three session days. Bob's lack of concern for time when he was operating was centred around his patients. His ability to carry out his cleft surgery with excellent postoperative results were his main concern. In the mid 1980's, Bob and I moved to the new Addenbrooke's site, but it was not until 1992 that George Cormack was appointed as the third consultant and since that time the unit has continued to expand to its present size of 13 consultant plastic surgeons, together with junior staff. Trainees who progressed through the unit owe Bob a great dealt for his teaching abilities and enthusiasm for surgery and attention to detail. In particular, it was in the operating theatre in which he excelled and he was able to demonstrate and pass on his skills to them. They were never allowed to put in a single stitch that was not exact and Bob's tenacity was one of his greatest assets. He enjoyed a long and happy retirement, which included overseas travel with Sally his wife. He had an infectious enthusiasm for skiing and latterly golf and tennis, which he used to play on a regular basis with Sir Roy Calne, his friend and neighbour. Bob was a true Scot and retained a pride in his Scottish roots, entertaining his family annually in the west Highlands, where his father had originated. His health declined in the latter two years of his life and he died at Addenbrooke's on 13 June 2015. He was 84. He was survived by his wife Sally, his four children, Lindy, Tony, Fiona and Nicky, and by his five grandchildren.

Rights
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Collection
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows

Format
Obituary

Format
Asset

Asset Path
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E008000-E008999/E008000-E008099

URL for File
380256

Media Type
Unknown