Colin Murray Parkes OBE, SCAS Patron, died this January at the age of 95.

We were very saddened to learn of the passing of Colin Murray Parkes OBE, our Patron. Colin was a very eminent psychiatrist, notable for his understanding of bereavement. Colin established the first hospice-based bereavement service at St Christopher’s Hospice in Kent and was the Chairman and President of Cruse Bereavement Care. He was the lead government consultant and adviser following major disasters including Aberfan, Bradford Football Club Fire, capsize of Herald of Free Enterprise, and the Lockerbie air crash.  He helped create the Trauma Recovery Programme in Rwanda in 1995. In 2001 he set up a support programme following 9/11 in New York. In 2005 he went to India to assess the psychological needs of people bereaved by the Indian earthquake and tsunami. His was a life of service.

His work in grief was groundbreaking. Working with Bowlby, he identified 4 stages of grieving.  In his 1972 book Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life, he states “The pain of grief is just as much a part of life as the joy of love; it is, perhaps, the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment.”

We were very honoured to have Colin as a Patron. He understood the need for pet bereavement support, providing much encouragement as SCAS developed the Pet Loss Support Service under the guidance of Dr Mary Stewart DVM.

We are deeply grateful to have benefited from his very wise counsel.