Like most trainees in clinical genetics we first met Robin at the Dysmorphology Club and would come away in awe of his encyclopaedic knowledge and amused by his comments. We were both fortunate to spend some time at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOS) during our training and were subsequently appointed as consultants there. It has been a privilege to work with Robin and this article concentrates on Robin as a colleague and a friend.

Robin used to say that his interest in malformations and man–mouse homology started during his enforced gap year, spent looking after laboratory rats because he was too young to start medical school. He went on to do an intercalated BSc in genetics at the Galton Laboratories. After qualifying in medicine from University College, London, Robin began training in paediatrics and it was while he was working at Harperbury Hospital that he first met Michael Baraitser, the visiting neurologist. He persuaded Michael to tutor him for his clinical Membership exams and that was the start of their life-long collaboration and friendship. Michael stimulated Robin’s interest in dysmorphology, which Robin followed up by spending 18 months in Virginia with Walter Nance. He returned to the UK in 1978 to take up one of the first three senior registrar posts in the new specialty of clinical genetics. His fellow post holders were Dian Donnai and Ian Young.

In 1981 Robin was appointed to a consultant post at the Kennedy-Galton Centre (KGC), Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow. He organised the department in what was to become a trademark manner, setting up weekly clinical meetings and slide reviews and developing, with Shire, a database for use in the clinical genetics department. During his time at KGC, Robin conducted peripheral clinics throughout northwest London, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. However, his main interest continued to …