Professor Robert (Bob) J. Grieve

September 1969 – July 1984

Bob started his medical undergraduate course at the University of Birmingham Medical School, where he excelled in many subjects and won the John Barrett-Mellon Memorial prize in physiology in 1971. He obtained a distinction in pathology and bacteriology together with honours in physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, and social medicine. 

His warmth of personality and general good spirit was readily recognised and, he became a natural social leader within the year. It is no surprise that he was the major instigator and organiser of subsequent class annual reunions, the most recent of which was held on 6th October 2024 (the 50th graduation anniversary), two days after his unexpected and untimely death. Bob was also an all-round sports enthusiast. He excelled in rugby and was an especially talented cricketer, playing for the Warwickshire Colts as a schoolboy.

His initial house job was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. From July 1975 to March 1977 his subsequent junior medical training was undertaken at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham which proved to be two of the happiest years of his life. It was here that he made the acquaintance of the dynamic, curly haired, accomplished Irish hockey playing trainee social worker Catherine Maria Christine Jackson and they were married in July 1976. 

MRCP success first time around, of course, as was the case in all his ‘tests’ was followed by what proved to be a formative introduction and love for the emerging specialty of oncology. From March 1977 he was awarded a Cancer Research Campaign Fellowship under the direction of Tony Howell (later Prof of Medical Oncology at The Christie Hospital) and Mike Morrison (a pioneering general surgeon morphing into a specialist breast surgeon). 

Over the next two and a half years Bob established and assumed the day to day running of a pioneering adjuvant chemotherapy trial in early breast cancer. This was probably the first such UK study, starting less than two years after Giovanni Bonnadonna reported his preliminary CMF study (after only two years follow up). Bob single-handedly journeyed through the West Midlands and its 26 hospitals, recruiting more than 1,100 during his travels. He developed other clinical projects based on this trial and undertook laboratory-based cell culture experimentation investigating potential chemosensitivity. This trial, along with similar collaborative West Midlands wide studies in ovarian cancer (led by Charlie Chan) and gastric cancer (led by John Fielding) resulted in the establishment of one of the first dedicated Cancer Clinical Trials Unit in 1982 under George Blackledge. It has since grown to international significance and recently incorporated the research activity of the national Children’s Cancer Leukaemia Group.

Without doubt, this experience was the foundation for Bob’s unrivalled success and enthusiasm in becoming one of the leading contributors to the myriads of oncology clinical trials he was to be involved with.

In September 1979 Bob and Kate relocated to Manchester and Bob spent five immensely happy years at The Christie. He secured his FRCR in 1983. Bob and Kate’s first three of four children were born in Manchester. 

June 1984 - May 2016

In June 1984 Tom Backhouse attracted him to fill the 3rd Consultant Oncology position (now 33!) at The Walsgrave Hospital (University Hospital of Coventry and Warwick) and also established a peripheral clinic at St Cross Hospital in his beloved childhood town of Rugby. 

By May 1987 Bob became Head of Department, overseeing the development and expansion of a new Radiotherapy unit with an after-loading Selectron unit, Chemotherapy Day case, OP clinic facilities, and in-patient oncology wards. He led the introduction of combined site-specific clinics with surgical colleagues. Recognising the paucity of palliative care provision, he attracted funding to establish a six-bedded palliative care unit at Allersley Hall Nursing Home where, together with a team of local GPs, he provided medical care and supervision.

This was the start of his prolific charitable fund-raising mission. Although difficult to uncover many of his exploits, he was personally responsible for raising in excess of £10 million to benefit the following causes, among many others: 

• The construction and staffing of The Arden Cancer Research Network Unit.
• Site specialty, palliative and research nurses.
• Two Chairs, both Medical and Clinical Oncology, with The University of Warwick.
• Clinical Research Fellowships.
• A pathology technician to facilitate entry into trials requiring specialist molecular biological expertise.
• Development of a Supra-regional Centre for the delivery of Total Body Electrons for Mycosis Fungoides.
• Annual Visiting International Clinical Fellowships.
• A new Oncology OP and Chemotherapy unit at Hospital of St Cross.

Under Bob’s direction the Arden Cancer Network flourished. In 2001 he was presented with a silver salver by the CEO of Walsgrave Hospital “[o]n behalf of the NHS to acknowledge [his] personal contribution as a Coventry Hospitals Charity Trustee in raising over £5 million (£11+ million at 2024 rates) to improve cancer care in Coventry.”

In 2007 he was honoured with a personal Chair in Clinical Oncology at The University of Warwick.

Somehow, Bob’s achievements were even more remarkable in Postgraduate Oncology education. In 1996 he was appointed as Regional Postgraduate Advisor in Clinical Oncology in the West Midlands Deanery, laying the foundations for expansion in trainee numbers from 7 to 23 and incorporating mandatory structured training for both parts of the FRCR examination on his Wednesday afternoons. Over a 16-year period the regional first-time pass rate of both FRCR parts was over 90%. Bob routinely offered optional regular tutorials and characteristic quizzes at 07:30, before the start of the clinical day, which were always well attended and greatly valued.

In 2001 Bob was appointed to the RCR Clinical Oncology FRCR part II Board becoming Senior Examiner 2004 - 2014. During this time he recruited the help of educationalists from other Colleges and University College London to transform the nature, conduct, transparency, and accountability of the exam.

His many and varied formal contributions to the college included memberships of the:

• Education Board
• Visiting Training Accreditation Committee
• Equivalence Committee 
• Patient Liaison Committee
• Radiotherapy Guidelines Writing Committee
• Committee to advise on procedure for Presidential appointments 

In recognition of his enormous contribution to the College, Bob received the inaugural Exceptional Contribution Award in 2017 with a special citation in respect of his role in teaching and assessment.

Bob was the essence of kindness, gentleness and humility. He was able to make everyone he came across feel valued and special- at whatever moment they caught him, they received his undivided caring attention. Characterised by boundless energy, he infused lightness and fun even into the most difficult of situations. Shining with integrity he built community and encouraged inclusivity, ownership, and resilience by remembering everyone’s name, quietly sending cards of support and small tokens of gratitude, or actively encouraging everyone to be an advocate for the patient.

Bob’s remarkable lifetime of service and achievement was founded on the unwavering support and shared commitment of his one and only Kate, whom he regarded as his rock and the love of his life. Together they both looked upon their four children, Alex, Iain (a GP in Stratford-upon-Avon), Alison, and Angus and their families as the richest of life’s blessings. Their nine grandchildren adored his ever-present sense of fun and play.

The latest news of an expected tenth grandchild (May 2025) to complete the Captain’s XI brought him much further delight and happiness.

Bob spoke and wrote of his life as being one of great happiness. He did not dwell on his accomplishments but on people, seeking the good in everyone and everything; he was the best kind of leader, team player, and the very best of men.

In his own words: 

• “So many books, so little time.”
• “Make sure you read the question.”
• “Keep the ball on the ground.”
• “Try to see yourself as others see you”, or rather, in the Robbie Burns original, “O wad some pow’r the gift gie us to see oursels as ithers see us.” (Bob, you hadn’t a clue!)

Always the same, full of energy and fun, overflowing with kindness and goodness, people like Bob are seen but once in a generation. How blessed and fortunate were we?

Memoir authors:

David Spooner, Murray Brunt, Clive Irwin and Chris Baughan (four pals of Bob).