Alan Clive Roberts Explained

Alan Roberts
Birth Date:28 April 1934
Birth Place:Exeter, England
Fields:Materials science, biology, bio-engineering, reconstructive surgery
Awards:OBE, Territorial Decoration, Prince Philip Medal
Spouse:Margaret Mary Shaw
Children:Martin John Roberts, Adrian Christopher Roberts
Partners:)-->

Alan Clive Roberts (28 April 1934 – 1 December 2021) was a British materials scientist, consultant and engineer who specialised in biomaterials, clinical prosthetics and implants in reconstructive surgery.[1] [2] He specialised in the research, development and the use of tissue adhesives in wound management. He is known by some as the "father of tissue adhesive".[3] [4]

He was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for research in the field of implantation materials in 1970, the MBE in 1982, and the OBE for contributions to science and technology in 2002.[5]

He was director of the Centre for Clinical Prosthetics at the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Professor of Biomaterials in Surgery at the Academic Surgical Unit of the University of Hull. He was also a consultant clinical scientist at Nuffield Hospital in Leeds, and the head of the Clinical Prosthetics Department at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford.[6] Roberts was former joint director of the Institute of Health Research and was chairman of the National Research Ethics Service from 2006 to 2011. He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Court and Council at the University of Leeds from 1983 to 2000.[7]

Roberts was a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and was its vice-president from 2007 to 2009 and the founder of the Technology in Medicine section of the Society. He was also an honorary treasurer of the society.[8] He was awarded the Honorary Fellowship at the Royal Society of Medicine, its highest honour, in 2010.[9]

Early life and education

Born in Exeter in 1934, Roberts was a son of Major William Roberts MBE and Cathleen Roberts. He attended Askam House School and Gregg School in Newcastle upon Tyne and then at what is now Manchester Metropolitan University and at the University of Bradford.[10]

Medical research

Roberts was a scientific officer of the Newcastle Royal Infirmary and completed his research degree (MPhil) in medical materiel. Roberts developed "Silskin" from research in 1992 which was the first universal prosthetic skin with global use in clinical prosthetics.[11]

Roberts' research in 2006 produced a prosthetic adhesive to effectively overcome the difficulty of attaching materials, prostheses and devices to the body with particular reference to colostomy and facial prostheses. He has published numerous scientific papers and books on his subject.[12]

He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, a chartered biologist, a fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS) and a fellow at the City and Guilds of London Institute.[13] He was a Companion of Honour at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was a member of the international advisory board at the University of Malaysia Medical School and a former examiner to the University of Sheffield, School of Clinical Dentistry. He was an examiner at the University of Malta medical school in 2004.[14]

Roberts was awarded honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Leeds in 2000,[15] the University of London in 2005, the University of Bradford in 2007,[16] and Brunel University in 2007.

Other service

Following national service in the British Army, Roberts joined the Territorial Army in the Royal Artillery. As a reservist, he commanded the Leeds University Officer Training Corps as a lieutenant-colonel before becoming a colonel and deputy commander to the General Officer Commanding North East Military District. He was an honorary colonel commandant of the Royal Artillery, as well as honorary colonel of 269(WR) Battery 101 (N) Regiment Royal Artillery and former honorary colonel of a number of reserve units. He was a former chairman of the Council of United Kingdom Military Education Committees. He was also an honorary aide-de-camp to Elizabeth II from 1980-1984. He was a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of West Yorkshire and County President South & West Yorkshire Royal British Legion.[17]

Roberts was a trustee of Yorkshire Sculpture Park,[18] Action for Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury (ARNI),[19] SSAFA, Carmichael Walker Committee, West Riding Artillery Trust,[20] Maritime Heritage Foundation (2010). He was a county president of SSAFA West Yorkshire and was president of the Royal British Legion Leeds Group.[21] He was president of Leeds District NSPCC, was county president at British Red Cross for West Yorkshire 1986-02.[22] Chairman of the Army Benevolent Fund of West Yorkshire from 1972 to 1975 and was Gentleman Usher of Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.

In 2002, Roberts was awarded the Badge of the Order of Mercy by the League of Mercy Foundation. This is a self-styled order created in 1999 to imitate the League of Mercy that was dissolved in 1947; it is not an official award.

He died on 1 December 2021, at the age of 87.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Roberts, Alan Clive. The Development of Facial Prosthetics and Adhesives in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Study in the Application of Prosthetic Materials and Devices Used in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Together with Tissue Adhesives as an Alternative to Conventional Ligation. 2011. University of Bradford.
  2. Web site: Armorial - Members - Col. Alan Clive ROBERTS OBE TD DL. White Lion Society. 15 May 2018.
  3. Roberts. A. C.. 1998. The tissue adhesive indermil and its use in surgery. Acta Chirurgiae Plasticae. 40. 1. 22–25. 0001-5423. 9640805.
  4. News: Yakuza given a helping hand by 'Mr Fingers'. Arlidge. John. 3 January 1999. The Guardian. 15 May 2018.
    - News: Order of St John. The Gazette. 8 January 2002. 15 May 2018.
  5. Web site: About the President. The British Institute of Dental & Surgical Technologists. 15 May 2018.
  6. News: Honorary degrees to be conferred upon distinguished six. Reporter. 448. 6 March 2000. Leeds University. 15 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20090513092924/http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/448/s1.htm. 13 May 2009. dead.
  7. News: OBEs N - Y. BBC News. 15 June 2001. 15 May 2018.
  8. Web site: The Royal Society of Medicine Wall of Honour. 15 May 2018. Royal Society of Medicine.
  9. Web site: Honorary Fellowships Ceremony 2010 . Royal Society of Medicine. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528215832/https://videos.rsm.ac.uk/video/honorary-fellowships-ceremony-2010. 28 May 2018. 15 May 2018.
  10. https://www.rsm.ac.uk/latest-news/2021/professor-alan-c-roberts-obe/ The Royal Society of Medicine, Professor Alan C Roberts OBE, Published 03 December 2021
  11. Web site: Jude. S. Professor Alan C Roberts. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090421172914/http://www.132acr.com/full_biographical.html. 2009-04-21. 15 May 2018. 132acr.com.
  12. Book: Clive., Roberts, Alan. Facial prostheses: the restoration of facial defects by prosthetic means.. 1971. Kimpton. 9780853137634. London. 334071.
    - Book: Hamilton, David. A History of Organ Transplantation: Ancient Legends to Modern Practice. 2012. University of Pittsburgh Pre. 9780822977841.
    - 1972-07-01. Facial Prostheses. By Alan Clive Roberts, T. D., C.G.I.A., F.R.S.H., F.B.I.S.T., A.I.S.T., A.I. Mechl.E., St. Luke's Hospital Bradford. 9½ × 7 in. Pp. 128 +x, with 138 illustration. 1971. Henry Kimpton. £3.50.. British Journal of Surgery . 59. 7. 582. 10.1002/bjs.1800590729. 1365-2168.
    - 1988-11-01. Custom-made nipple-areola prostheses in breast reconstruction. British Journal of Plastic Surgery. 41. 6. 586–587. 10.1016/0007-1226(88)90165-8. 0007-1226. Roberts. Alan C.. Coleman. David J.. Sharpe. David T.. 3207959.
  13. Web site: Seven ready for degrees success. 15 May 2018. Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
    - News: City and Guilds - a licence to learn . Reporter. 420. 11 May 1998. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061003073812/http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/420/s2.htm. 3 October 2006. 15 May 2018. Leeds University.
  14. News: Health: Businesslike culture helps cluster grow. 15 May 2018. The Financial Times. 11 March 2008. subscription.
  15. Web site: Honorary Degree Ceremony, 2000 Album 3 and Fine Arts Students Leeds 1999. University of Leeds Library. 28 May 2018.
  16. News: University honours leading lights of the business world. 15 May 2018. The Yorkshire Post.
  17. Book: Junior chronicle of the 20th century. DK Publishing, Inc.. 1997. 9780789420336. 1st American. New York. 307. 36713017. registration.
    - Web site: Bradford Celebrates Armed Forces Day. Bradford Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528214909/http://mediacentre.bradford.gov.uk/r/13349/bradford_celebrates_armed_forces_day. 28 May 2018. 28 May 2018. dead.
    - Book: Hume, Lucy. People of Today 2017. 5 October 2017. Debrett's. 9781999767037.
  18. Web site: YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK - Officers . 28 May 2018. Companies House.
  19. Web site: Professor Alan Roberts . 15 May 2018. ARNI.
  20. Web site: Charity Details. 20 May 2018. Charity Commission.
  21. Web site: Branch information - Leeds Group. The Royal British Legion.. 20 May 2018.
    - Web site: Honours List 2. 20 May 2018. HeraldScotland.
  22. News: A comic, a copper, a bus driver and a boss. 20 May 2018. the Yorkshire Evening Post.
  23. News: Roberts, Colonel Alan Clive OBE . 7 December 2021 . The Telegraph . 7 December 2021 . 7 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207202707/https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/253934/roberts-colonel-alan-clive-obe . dead .