Professor Robert 'Bob' Fletcher

Professor Robert 'Bob' Jackson Fletcher 1925- 2019

Tribute by daughter Dr Janet Voke

Robert Jackson Fletcher was born on July 12 1925 in Twickenham, Middlesex where his father practised as an independent optometrist for over fifty years.

Bob, as he liked to be known, followed his father and trained at the Northampton Polytechnic in London, which became City University in 1966). Later, his daughter Janet, would follow.

At the oldest training establishment for optometry worldwide dating to 1894, Bob observed the enjoyment his father gained from a career as an independent clinician and whose fascination with the human visual system was conveyed to his only child. After school at Denmead preparatory school and Hampton Grammar School war service followed, first in the RAF and then as a coal miner in the Staffordshire deep mines. Lifelong migraine attacks (with disturbing, though to him equally fascinating, visual symptoms) required him to transfer early from flying duties to mining during the war years. In 1946 he married Muriel King, in their joint home town Twickenham, and remained a devoted, faithful and loving husband until her death in July 2019 also at aged 94 years, just three weeks before his own. He was a most dedicated and caring father who also took enormous pleasure in watching his one grandchild, Miranda, daughter of Janet, grow up.