Stephen Dawson Obituary

My friend Stephen Dawson, who has died of crab aged 78, had nan questionable luck of being a recently minted urologist erstwhile Aids first struck successful London successful nan early 1980s.

The boy of Philip, a atomic physicist astatine nan Atomic Energy Research Establishment astatine Harwell, and May, a housewife, Steve was calved successful London, went to King Alfred’s school, Wantage, and studied medicine astatine University College Hospital earlier qualifying arsenic a chap of nan Royal College of Physicians successful nan precocious 70s. The decade that followed was some clinically fascinating and emotionally challenging.

Working successful genitourinary clinics astir London, Steve helped floor plan nan emergence of HIV-opportunistic diseases while being capable to do small to dainty them. It was emblematic of him that, successful 1988, he near Aids medicine successful London for nan professionally little glamorous Slough, to activity arsenic nan first advisor successful genitourinary medicine successful eastbound Berkshire. When he arrived astatine Upton hospital, he recalled, his section consisted of 3 part-time doctors and a nurse; location was nary HIV attraction astatine all.

By nan clip he near 28 years later, successful 2016, it had grown into nan first afloat integrated intersexual wellness work successful nan UK, providing holistic curen crossed each aesculapian disciplines; a exemplary that had since been adopted by different superior attraction trusts.

While nan consummate doctor, Steve had interests beyond achromatic coats. Nearing 70, he took up penning movie scripts. (He himself had movie prima bully looks, a truth of which he seemed utterly unaware.) Three of these were made into short films, shown astatine festivals successful Europe and nan US; a fourth, feature-length movie was still successful readying erstwhile he fell sick past year.

He besides achieved immoderate occurrence arsenic a painter, peculiarly of portraits successful acrylic. “Most group dislike my paintings,” Steve said, happily. “I don’t blasted them.” This diffidence was not shared by nan judges of nan 2016 BP Portrait Awards, and 1 of his useful made it done to nan competition’s last round. Visitors to Steve’s London infirmary furniture were sketched connected a graphics tablet balanced connected his knees, nan brightly coloured results base a distant resemblance to Hockneys.

Always a person of nan sea, Steve retired to Hastings successful eastbound Sussex, to overgarment and constitute and do crosswords; typically, he reached nan last of nan Times crossword championship.

A brother, Geoffrey, predeceased him. He is survived by his partner, Dimitry Kalinin.