Rosalind Hinton Obituary

My mother, Rosalind Hinton, who has died aged 94, was a unit of quality – a female of intellect, strength, humour and mischief. Although she often seemed formidable, those who knew her recognised her compassion. She was mostly known arsenic “Ra”, a sanction she cherished aft her relative Anthony’s puerility mispronunciation. She had galore identities, and each reflected a different domiciled that she embraced pinch zeal.

Born successful London to Lucy Hamson, a physician, and Charles Elliott, a lawyer, Rosalind lived done melodramatic societal and governmental changes, from nan blitz to broadband, rationing to IVF. Her early life was marked by a consciousness of responsibility, particularly towards her 2 younger brothers.

A boarding schoolhouse acquisition astatine Downe House, successful Berkshire, mixed pinch wartime hardships, including being evacuated to unrecorded pinch her godmother successful Abergavenney, Monmouthshire, strengthened her resilience. Her consciousness of escapade and determination was clear moreover successful childhood. In her later career, it came to style nan measurement she approached family life and medicine.

Graduating from nan Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, successful 1955, she was first a locum GP successful Lincolnshire, past a GP successful Plymouth, and later started training arsenic a family readying doctor. Her 1976 referral of a patient, Lesley Brown, to Patrick Steptoe’s session astatine Bourn Hall, adjacent Cambridge, resulted successful nan commencement of Louise Brown, nan world’s first IVF baby. This act, though a mini portion of her agelong career, highlighted her expertise to style things to travel softly and humbly.

She met Josh Hinton, a naval liaison serviceman astatine RAF Cranwell successful Lincolnshire, successful 1955; they joined nan pursuing year. Josh near nan navy successful nan precocious 1950s and went to Wells Theological College, and became a curate successful Exmouth, Devon, and later nan vicar of Pucklechurch successful Gloucestershire.

Their location was ever lively – filled pinch children, animals and predominant visitors. Despite nan challenges of raising 3 children while supporting her husband, Rosalind made lasting contributions to reproductive medicine, hypnotherapy and aesculapian acquisition and taught students, and postgraduates astatine Bristol University.

Always willing successful others, she maintained her expertise to connect, perceive and stock contented into her last weeks. Though she ne'er saw herself arsenic inspirational, those who knew her tin attest to nan profound effect she had. She was a female who touched countless lives.

Josh died successful 2002. Rosalind is survived by their children, Jay, John and me, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and her brother, Timothy.