Psychiatric Bulletin (2001) 25: 197. doi: 10.1192/pb.25.5.197-a
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2001) 25: 197
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Terrence Eric Lear
Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist at St Crispin Hospital, Northampton
Lawrence Lear and
Amit Bhattacharyya
Terry Lear, group analyst and former consultant psychiatrist and
psychotherapist, St Crispin and General Hospitals, Northampton, was born in
Ilford and died suddenly in Southern Ireland on 24 August 2000. Prior to his
appointment in Northampton, his postgraduate education with eminent tutors
culminated at University College Hospital London with appointments in
neurology and psychiatry. He studied medicine at the Royal College of
Surgeons, Dublin, where he graduated in 1955. In 1974 he became a Fellow of
both the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and the Royal College of
Psychiatrists of England and also qualified as a member of the institute of
Group Analysis, having been trained under S. H. Foulkes.
Early in his career as a general psychiatrist, he brought in new ideas long
before they were adopted nationally, so helping to form multi-disciplinary
consulting groups in the hospital and in the community, such as phase care for
the elderly, general practitioner seminars by telephone link with the
Balints and a therapeutic home for disturbed families. He went
on to develop a dedicated psychotherapy service for Northamptonshire. Terry
was psychiatric tutor from 1965 to 1975 and was chairman of the Medical
Advisory Committee from 1965 to 1970. His work on groups flourished: he taught
and lectured widely and served as president of the Group-Analytical Society
from 1988 to 1991. His numerous publications included papers in neurology,
psychiatry, psychotherapy and group analysis, as well as contributions to
books and as editor of a book on group-analysis. Latterly, he became
interested in, and wrote on, the psychological aspects of
shame.
He was President of the Northampton Medical Society at the time of his
death. He will be so deeply missed by all who knew him for his kindness and
compassion. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Kathleen, two sons, and three
grandchildren.