Professor Stanley Roberts, outstanding clinician, educator and colleague

The College was deeply saddened to hear of the death of our esteemed colleague and past-president, Dr Stanley Roberts.

Prof Mary Horgan, RCPI President, said:

"Stanley Roberts was an outstanding clinician, educator and colleague. A true gentleman, he was dedicated to the improvement of medical training benefiting generations of clinicians and patients. He supported his colleagues and worked hard to build cross-border alliances at a difficult time in our history."

Stanley Roberts was born in Belfast in 1932, he studied medicine at Queen’s University graduating MB in 1954 and MD in 1960. He trained at the Royal Victoria Hospital and at Taplow, where he held an ARC Research Fellowship. In 1967 he was appointed Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital and was heavily involved in the development of services for rheumatic patients in Northern Ireland, as well as teaching and postgraduate training.

Throughout his career, Stanley worked hard to build bridges between the communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic. He was involved in the formation of the Corrigan Club which fostered cross-border medical links. As a Fellow of RCPI he served on Council, as Director of Examinations, and as the Irish Representative on the MRCP Examinations Board. In 1994 he was elected President of RCPI, only the second Ulster man to hold the post. During his three-year tenure as President, Stanley focused on improving the quality of training provided by the College, and developing international links, especially in Malaysia. Stanley remained actively involved with RCPI after his presidency, continuing to drive the development of training as Chair of the Irish Committee of Higher Medical Training.  

In 1997 Stanley was awarded an OBE for his services to medicine, in 2007 RCPI recognised his contribution awarding him the Stearne Medal for outstanding services to Irish medicine.

Stanley was married to Florence Isabel Nelson and had three children Belinda, Michael, and Paul.