Daphne Mary Pearson (née Yates)

Daphne Mary Pearson (née Yates)

Former senior clinical medical officer in community paediatrics Richmond, Twickenham, and Roehampton Health Care Trust (b 1942; q Charing Cross Hospital, London, 1966; MA), died from primary glioma on 15 December 2005.

Daphne was an enthusiastic student, involving herself in all aspects of medical school life. While there, she met her future husband, Tom. They married immediately after qualifying. Initially, Daphne embarked on a career in general practice. However, family life began in 1970 and Daphne switched to community paediatrics, her career specialty. She maintained career flexibility by also undertaking family planning clinics and training and became an assistant forensic examiner.

Daphne carefully balanced work and home life, including supporting Tom’s rise through academic medicine, attending school activities, and running guides.

In 1989, feeling the family had been well-guided through early life, Daphne took up full time work as a senior clinical medical officer.

In 1990 she had breast cancer but typically organised her chemotherapy around her work schedule. She then energetically promoted Breakthrough for many years. Having successfully recovered, she acted as consultant community paediatrician for three years. She showed her undoubted leadership qualities, championed the multidisciplinary approach for children with disability, and was a respected teacher of the Griffiths psychological assessment. On restarting her previous post she set out to prove her academic worth and, aged 57, successfully undertook an MA.

Daphne’s retirement came shortly after and included voluntary work, campervanning across Europe, and delight at becoming a grandmother. She was determined yet philosophical when diagnosed with a brain tumour and died 16 months later. She leaves Tom, three children, and four grandchildren. [I C Pearson, T C Pearson]