In Memory of Tom Mason

Tom Mason, who died on 18^th June 2011, was professor of mental health and learning disability and Head of Department in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of Chester, England. Tom was a highly respected academic and author. His edited book – “Forensic Psychiatry – Influences of Evil”- caused quite a stir when published in 2006. One of his last contributions to the mental health literature was his two fine chapters in “Mental Health Ethics: The Human Context” (2011). Anyone with an interest in forensic mental health should read Toms chapters on ‘the insanity defence’ and ‘forensic care’.

However, Tom was also highly respected as a person. It is our great privilege that Tom’s wife – Professor Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead – has allowed us to publish part of the eulogy she offered at Tom’s funeral in Southport this summer. Elizabeth’s eulogy acknowledged Tom’s important contribution to his chosen field, but most of all recognised Tom’s personal qualities: the human thread that ran, unbroken, down all the days of his life.

Elizabeth wrote:

“ It was often commented on that throughout his remarkable life Tom was essentially a Lancashire Lad who stayed true to the old fashioned values of decency he was brought up with; a strong work ethic, sharing all that he had, putting others first and living within your means. Tom preferred to live modestly with his books, Bob Dylan music and guitar. But he was well travelled; he loved the sea and sailed the Atlantic and his last holiday was a cruise in the Mediterranean.

Tom did have an interesting way of dressing, the Nehru shirt was his signature as was his habit of wearing his socks with sandals!

When Tom became ill he was profoundly overwhelmed by the love and support bestowed upon him by our friends at Chester University - our Faculty of Health Social Care became our loving family down the M53 - you pulled out every stop and thanks to you Tom never lost his influence or engagement with Chester. Also to the Pancreatic Research Team at Liverpool Royal who did their very best for Tom. Tom came to love dearly the Macmillan and District Nurses, they understood his gentleness, humour and privacy and every day they gave their all, to support Tom's bravery and courage to 'live' rather than 'die' with cancer - and this he did until his dignified and peaceful passing. On behalf of the family I would like to express my heart felt thanks and gratitude to all of you.

During these last months, Tom has reflected upon his life and given us more wonderful stories that will be passed on through the generations.

His working life began in Southport and as a very young trainee baker he would talk about how he cycled to the bake house to turn the ovens on at 5am. Just a few weeks ago he was re-calling to me how he gave sixpence a week for the annual trip to Blackpool and how on Christmas Eve when the last pudding was sold, the employers would bring fish 'n chips in before they all went home.

One New Year's Eve Tom was knocked off his motorbike in Southport and his leg was broken badly and that was to be a life changing event. A visit from an acquaintance prompted him to join the RAF and 12 months later - after Tom had put himself on a grueling exercise programme, he was fit enough to join as a Physical Training Instructor. He had a story of performing in the Gymnastics Team and living in the basement of Earls Court, when introduced to the Queen she asked what his accommodation was like "Not as comfortable as the horses" he replied "Good" was her response! He was also selected for the SAS and there are indeed a few stories from that time of his life.

With RAF days over Tom took various jobs and he spoke about his time in the firework factory. He had a little cart with gunpowder in and he had to take it from shed to shed where elderly ladies made fireworks by hand.

Tom's Dad introduced him to Ashworth Hospital and when in later years he was asked "Why nursing Tom?" He always replied "It just felt right." It was a definitive time in Tom's life. Tom was of the generation who ploughed through long nurse trainings and from Learning Disability he moved to Bristol for his Registered Mental Nurse and then London for General training. He also gained experience at Broadmoor and The Maudsley.

On coming back to Ashworth Tom took his first degree at Manchester Metropolitan University and there he met his great inspirational mentor the late Joel Richman. Tom thus began an intellectual journey of colossal proportions that would last almost until the day he died. Yet his love of books began very early and whilst others were reading comics Tom had joined the library and was immersing himself in philosophy. Tom's brother told me that whilst his school mates wrote Liverpool Football Club on their Rucksacks Tom wrote Emmanuel Kant on his!

His PhD in Forensic Nursing remains an enviable thesis. Tom's time at Ashworth gave him a wealth of experience that he would stand him in good stead for the rest of his life. His mantra was as a Charge Nurse I was "firm, fair and friendly." And came to the conclusion that this was really you needed for parenthood!

Tom's joining of Liverpool University was to mark his transition into academic life and he soon gained his first Professorship at Glamorgan University.

Tom became an international figure who had a reputation for challenging conventional forensic clinical practice. He was a hugely courageous writer and he had no fear of rocking the forensic establishment. A few months ago I read him a review of his book on forensic psychiatry - I said "They seem a bit rattled by what you've written" - Tom replied "Great!"

By the time Tom was 55 he was given a new challenge. His post as Head of Department and Professor of Mental Health & Learning Disability at Chester University was one which he held with relish. His remit was "to bring on the next generation of academics, writers and researchers." None of us were quite prepared for his military like strategic campaign that he embarked upon and the result was a beam of sunlight which shone on our Faculty and we became known as a heartland for industrious scholarly and research activity that opened a door to all who chose to enter. Tom had no interest in pomposity and affectation and the goodness for Tom was not in a fellow's title but his love of subject and his sustained efforts. Tom worked up to the end of his life and just two weeks ago one of his dearest PhD students came to the house for supervision. He left us with over 70 academic papers and ten books. He always said the tools of his trade were his mind, his pencils and his very specific thin lined notebooks. He would take a notebook and every ten lines he would put a pin through. When he