Robert McLaren Todd

Mar 26 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

THE presence of the tall man, whose white hair was thin on top but always trimmed above the collar and ears, will be cherished for a long time.

With humour, as well as profundity, he brought the word of God to congregations, and his skill and dedication as a paediatrician offered hope to parents and strength to their children.

In an age when the forces of faith and science didn’t always coincide, Dr Robert McLaren Todd stepped seamlessly from the hospital bed to the pulpit, giving his charm to both.

He was born in Syston, Leicestershire, the elder son of a pharmacist. From grammar school, he entered Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1934-1937) and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London (1937-1940).

After qualification, he worked as a house surgeon in Bart’s, gaining more qualifications and experience in various posts, before being appointed the first senior lecturer and later the first reader in the Department of Child Health at Liverpool University.

There, he ran the Medical Research Council trial of Streptomycin in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis at Alder Hey children’s hospital.

After a spell at Harvard, USA, in 1953, as a Fulbright Scholar, researching into endocrine disorders, he continued at Alder Hey until 1979, producing some 80 papers and textbook chapters on paediatric problems ranging from tuberculosis, nephrotic syndrome and gastroenteritis to neonatal hypophosphatasia and islet cell tumour of the newborn.

From 1957, Todd was consultant paediatrician at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, responsible for the Special Care Baby Unit.

In 1949, he founded the Liverpool Paediatric Club and was its first secretary.

Todd, a CofE lay reader since 1941, played the organ since his school days and was in much demand at weddings when a student.

Since July, 1948, he had been Reader at the Parish Church of St Mary’s Church, Wavertree. In 2001, there was a special morning Eucharist to celebrate his 60 years as a Reader. The following year, he was appointed Reader Emeritus. He had preached more than 800 sermons – often drawing on a sense of humour influenced by Fawlty Towers, Dad’s Army and One Foot in the Grave. His infectious chuckle was heard by many. Snooker was another of his enthusiasms.

His funeral is at St Mary’s at 11am tomorrow.

He married Eileen Gilbert in 1945 and they had three children, Christopher, Hugh and Rosemary. She died 10 years ago.

Robert McLaren Todd, doctor; born September 27, 1915, died March 11, 2008.