ROBERT (ROY) GIBSON FRCS
The many friends, acquaintances and colleagues of Roy Gibson were deeply saddened to learn of his death on 11th March 2024.
Roy typified the values of an Instonian – a pride in Inst., continued support for its welfare and an undiminished interest in its former pupils.
These values were rightly recognised when he was elected President of the Belfast Old Instonians Association in 2003 and President of Instonians Club in 1989.
It might be said – jocularly – that early in life, Roy saw clearly the path that he wanted to follow. That path was started at Inst. To some, it might have seemed a surprise that he did because Roy’s primary education consisted of six years at Downey House School – the preparatory school for Methody. Indeed, his parents were very keen that he took his secondary education at Methody.
Roy demonstrated early a very recognisable trait, in that he knew his own mind and was not to be deflected from something that he believed in, and insisted that he wanted to go to Inst. Accordingly, his father applied on his behalf for entrance to Inst.
The then Principal, Mr J G Grummit, was duty-bound to take references from Methody. This he did by writing to the Headmaster, Mr J G Harrison. Mr Harrison replied promptly in a letter of 8th June 1945, in which he said:-
“Roy Gibson who is excellent in every way is almost our most promising pupil. I am only sorry that he is not going on to the Methodist College … he is a great boy of great ability and high character.”
To say that Methody’s loss was Inst’s gain is but an understatement.
Later in life, Roy avowed with his usual candour that at Downey House he had been “taught well enough to pass the entrance exam for Inst.” He entered Inst. in September 1945, the start of a long, happy and rewarding connection. His love for cricket was first nurtured there. He went on to play for the Inst. 1st XI, and his later profession as a well-respected medical consultant did not preclude him from playing in an Instonians 5th XI which won the Fourth Division League Section Number Two in 1986!
Roy always expressed a desire to follow a career in medicine, although at one stage in his school career, his father felt it necessary to pay to keep all options open. He wrote to Mr Grummit on 14th October 1949:-
“I am quite agreeable that Roy Gibson should study Geography in place of Latin, provided that it will qualify him for pharmacy, medicine or science entry examinations.”
The loss of Geography was no great sacrifice to someone who knew the highways and byways of rural County Down, from where his family hailed, and the environs of Portrush and the North Coast, where he enjoyed many escapades and holidays with his friends from school, Billy Chambers and Ben Wilson.
The attraction of the dances at the Arcadia Ballroom in Portrush were later replaced by the delights of the Inst. and QUB dances held during term time in Belfast.
Roy was the proud owner of a moped. It is not clear if Deirdre Addis – a young teacher – was attracted by Roy’s moped or his quickstep but, in any event, they became an item very quickly.
The engagement of Deirdre and Roy raised eyebrows – not because they were thought not to be a suitable match, but because Roy was marrying a past pupil of Methodist College. Maybe it was justice that Methody got a little bit of Roy back.
Roy was always determined to read Medicine. He went to Queen’s University Belfast in 1951, where he later graduated with honours. He was always interested in ENT medicine and he quickly became an expert in practical head and neck surgery. His desire to progress led to him taking a year’s specialist study in St Louis, Missouri. Roy resisted the obvious attraction of a career in the United States of America and returned to Northern Ireland in 1966 to a consultant’s post at the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he remained until his retirement in 1988.
He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (English College) and the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh). His abilities and medical acumen were recognised by his professional colleagues, and he was appointed Honorary Secretary of the Royal staff, giving him a direct route into the management of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Roy was instrumental in seeing through the rationalisation of ENT surgery in Belfast, where he cared assiduously for many patients, including those who had sustained serious injuries in the Troubles.
On retiring, Roy continued with his close interest in all matters to do with Inst. Despite the time this took, he still was able to follow other pursuits. One of these was an informed interest in the Stock Market and investments generally. A “tip” from Roy was always worthy of further consideration.
It is well known that hard worked medical consultants, when wishing to avail themselves of a tea or coffee break during their very busy clinics, would say to the nurses, “I am off to see Mrs Brown.” After retirement, Roy was still able to go and see Mrs Brown! He enjoyed immensely the social aspects of the Instonians family, especially his visits to Randall’s Coffee Shop where he demonstrated with brio his renowned skills as a raconteur. His storytelling was given further scope at the front gates of both Inchmarlo and Inst. when he did “grandfather duties” in collecting his grandson, Sam, through whom he lived vicariously life at Inst. His presence at Shane Park and at Shaws Bridge, where he followed eagerly the success of Instonian teams, his friendly banter and the craic added immensely to the enjoyment of his retirement.
Retirement also gave him more time to be with his daughters and grandchildren. In typical irony, he said on many occasions, “my grandchildren are my real pride and joy,” adding with a twinkle in his eye, “if I had known they were that good, I would have had them long before my children.”
At the celebration of his life held at McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church, his daughter, Lesley, poignantly advised us that the three greatest joys in her father’s life were:-
1. His family;
2. Belfast people with their moods, their expressions and the things they told him; and
3. Last but not least, his education, particularly at Inst.
His character was summed up by his close friend, Dr Billy Chambers, who said, “Roy was the best of fun and the most reliable person one could imagine.”
His friendship, concern for others and wise counsel will be missed by the entire Instonian community, which extends to his daughters and their families its condolences and sympathies.
CDG