Psychiatric Bulletin (2003) 27: 439. doi: 10.1192/pb.27.11.439
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2003) 27: 439
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
James Warner
Jennifer Parsons, Mrs (daughter)
Formerly Consultant in Children's Psychiatry and Medical Director of City
of Coventry Child Guidance Service (Gulson Road Clinic)
James Warner, or Jim, as he was generally known, died suddenly at home on
19 April 2003. He was born in Coventry on 13 August 1919. On leaving school he
studied ophthalmic optics with Lloyd Averns Opticians in Warwick.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, Jim was conscripted to the Forces and
served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and Royal Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers. During an air raid on Singapore in 1942 he received a shrapnel
wound that caused a compound fracture of the femur. While recovering in a
military hospital, Singapore fell to the Japanese and he became a prisoner of
war in Singapore and later in Japan, until the War in the Far East ended in
August 1945.
After demobilisation, he studied medicine at Birmingham University,
graduating MB ChB in 1953. He gained the DPM in 1958 and was a Foundation
Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on its inauguration in 1971.
In 1962, he was appointed Consultant in Children's Psychiatry in Coventry,
a post he held for 18 years. He had a particular interest in family therapy
based on systems theory, writing and lecturing on this subject.
In addition, Jim lectured part-time at the Lanchester Polytechnic College,
now the University of Coventry.
In 1954, Jim married Amy Warner. She survives him along with four children
and seven grandchildren. Jim was very much a family man who enjoyed an active
retirement, pursuing a wealth of hobbies in North Devon.