Robert Clive Williams

Former occupational health doctor West Midlands (b 27 March 1933; q Bristol 1958; DIH, DAvMed, FFOM RCP), d 17 March
2005.

Dr Bob Williams was a much loved and respected occupational physician. He spent most of his professional life in the Royal Air
Force medical branch and with GKN Ltd. In recent years he undertook part time sessional work during a lengthy semi-retirement.

Bob was born in Cheshire, on 27 March 1933. His family moved to Bristol two years later. He remained in Bristol during his
school and university years, and graduated from the medical school in 1958. He undertook his preregistration jobs at the Bristol
Royal Infirmary; and in 1959 joined the Royal Air Force medical branch. Bob’s tour of duties included postings at RAF Halton,
Muharraq, St Mawgan, and Kai Tak (Hong Kong). His last post was as OIC at the RAF Institute of Community Medicine (1975
to 1976).

Bob met his wife, Mary, during his RAF years, while she served in the WRAF. They were married in February 1965 and
celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary earlier this year. The twins, Katie and Sarah, were born in 1966 during their tour in
Hong Kong. Both twins followed professional careers: Katie as a dentist and Sarah as a chartered accountant. Bob and Mary had
two grandchildren.

Academically Bob completed the diploma in aviation medicine course in 1969 and the MSc occupational medicine course at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, gaining the DIH and MSc in 1974. He gained the MFOM in 1981, and
fellowship of the faculty in 1996.

On leaving the RAF Bob became senior medical officer with the large engineering company GKN. Thus began a long association
with the company, and Bob became chief medical officer in 1990. He remained in this post until his first "retirement" in 1995.
Bob’s first taste of commercial, occupational health (OH) provision came in 1989, when the in-house OH service was formed
into a commercial company, GKN Occupational Health Ltd. Under his guidance, the team produced handbooks on hearing
protection and vibration white finger (the term hand arm vibration had not been coined in those days), and a range of training
videos on topics such as asbestos, hearing protection, and VWF. These videos were widely used by GKN but also distributed
nationally by ROSPA.

After his retirement as chief medical officer, Bob continued to be closely involved with the GKN Occupational Health Ltd and its
transformations, under various company names up until the present as Grosvenor Health Ltd. During these years Bob undertook a
number of part time roles, during an extended semi-retirement.

Bob also gave a great deal of commitment and energy to the specialty. He was a member of the original Faculty of Occupational
Medicine Working Party on Hand-transmitted Vibration that produced the report "Hand-transmitted Vibration: clinical effects
and pathophysiology" in 1993. Bob was an active, respected member of the working party, who brought sound, "down-to-earth"
pragmatism and a sense of humour to the group, especially during controversial debate. Bob also undertook regular lecturing to
undergraduate and MSc students at the Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham (now the Institute of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine).

Bob was a very active member of the Society of Occupational Medicine. At the time of his death he was the secretary to the
society’s West Midlands group and represented the society on the National Heart Foundation. Bob saw the workplace as an
opportunity to deliver a number of health screening and promotional initiatives and, in particular, to target employees who might
not otherwise take up screening invitations extended by their GP. He remained active in support of the society and the January
society newsletter is testimony to this: Bob contributed over four pages.

Bob was a skilled and experienced occupational physician. He was a superb teacher and was always willing to advise and support
colleagues. He had a deft touch in handling difficult cases and difficult clients. His relaxed manner, understated approach, and
sense of humour were capable of defusing the most testing of situations. Outside of medicine, Bob had many interests. He was
passionately interested in Scottie dogs and gardening. A man of his times, Bob became adept at playing computer games. He was
a dab hand at the latest Lara Croft game and at work had even mastered voice-activated software.

Bob died suddenly in March 2005. He was a much loved and respected husband, father, and occupational physician. He is greatly
missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. [Douglas Ackroyd]