Robert Combes obituary

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/25/robert-combes-obituary

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My father, Robert Combes, who has died of cancer aged 72, was a leading figure in nurse education at two of the country’s most prestigious teaching hospitals. He did much to champion the profession, as a nurse, mental health specialist and teacher during his 30 years in the NHS.

Bob was born in Oxford, one of three children of Kathleen (nee Hoskyns) and Sidney Combes. The family settled in Southwark, south London, and Bob excelled at Strand grammar school in Brixton, qualified as a state registered nurse (SRN) in 1965 at St Giles hospital, Camberwell, and then as a registered mental health nurse (RMN) in 1966 at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley hospitals.

During his training, Bob met Ann Doran and they married in 1966. They set up home in Dulwich, bringing up four children – me, my brothers, Paul and Adrian, and my sister, Rachel.

Bob was a nurse tutor at the London hospital, Whitechapel, from 1974 to 1981. With his colleague, Sue Hyland, he led a new four-year programme that resulted in an integrated SRN/RMN qualification in general and mental health nursing. The teaching style required a more equal relationship between student and teacher than was traditionally the case. Bob was respected by his students, many of whom stayed in contact for more than 40 years.

In 1981, now senior nursing tutor at the London, Bob was appointed director of nurse education at Bethlem Royal and Maudsley, before moving to Guy’s hospital as assistant director of nurse education in 1988. The amalgamation of Guy’s and St Thomas’ saw Bob become head of studies for Royal Trinity hospice, Clapham, in 1991. When he retired from that post in 1996, he trained as a counsellor then psychotherapist, entering private practice until fully retiring last year.

Bob always cared about people. He was chair of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers; and a trainer and volunteer for Cruse, the national bereavement service. Bob and Ann (who also became a psychotherapist) donated thousands of hours of pro bono counselling to Croydon Pastoral Foundation over 25 years.

My father was a great cricket-lover and an active supporter of Surrey County cricket club for 67 years – his favourite player was the former England and Surrey cricketer Peter May. An elegant opening batsman and a fine slip fielder himself, Bob played club cricket to a high standard. His love of the game lives on in his grandsons Ben and Henry, enrolled as members of Surrey the day they were born.

Bob is survived by Ann, me, Paul, Rachel and Adrian; Ben and Henry; his brother, John, and sister, Kathleen.