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.
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