Sadly, we learnt this week that Bob Marchant, the former Secretary of the Guinea Pig Club, and long time supporter of the Museum, passed away in his sleep.
Bob was born in Edenbridge in May 1935, and went off on National Service in 1953. He had signed up for three years instead of the compulsory 18 months, and joined the RAF. His chosen specialism was the medical branch, which stemmed from a youth spent in the St Johns Ambulance.
After completing National Service, Bob joined the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1956 as a theatre assistant. He found himself working with Sir Archibald McIndoe, whom he had learnt about during his medical training.
In 1960, he married Anne Prichard, who he had met when she came to work for the hospital. They went on to have two sons, Ian and Neil. Anne sadly died in 1999, after 39 years of marriage.
Bob remained at the hospital until his retirement, retiring as Chief Operating Department Assistant, responsible for overseeing the many moving parts of his department which included supporting anaesthetists.
Alongside this role, Bob found himself involved with the Guinea Pig Club, having started out helping with their fundraising in 1960, and being made an Honorary member in 1976 for his work.
In the 1980s, this work expanded to include the setting up of the Queen Victoria Hospital Museum, which told the story of Sir Archibald McIndoe and the Guinea Pigs. Bob became Honorary Curator, and worked to develop the museum, receiving the approval of HRH Prince Phillip in 1995 when he visited the Hospital.
The Museum was eventually closed down in 2009, and the collections transferred to the East Grinstead Museum. Along with them, Bob came as the Guinea Pig Club Advisor and Expert. He joined the Museum as a Trustee to ensure that the Guinea Pigs were integrated as a key part of the museum. This led to, in 2016, the opening of the Rebuilding Bodies and Souls Exhibition, a permanent memorial to the Club and it’s work.
In 2006, Bob became the Secretary to the Guinea Pig Club, and organised the final reunion of the Guinea Pigs in 2007, with HRH Prince Phillip attending the official dinner.
After the final reunion, Bob kept in touch with the Guinea Pigs, and their families, continuing to build the support network of families and other Club supporters. He continued this role until November 2023, when the final two Guinea Pigs passed away aged 101, five days apart from each other.
Bob’s tireless energy, drive, and deep care for the Guinea Pigs and their story was clear to all, and his legacy lives on in a multitude of things at the museum, not least the Rebuilding Bodies and Souls exhibition at the Museum. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say we will sorely miss him.
Comments(8)
Annabelle Tame says:
September 23, 2024 at 9:45 amI was so sad to hear of Bob Marchant’s passing. He knew my parents. I was hoping to meet him again this week during my return to East Grinstead. My thoughts are with his family.
Dr Rajesh Shankar says:
September 23, 2024 at 6:15 pmIt with sadness that I have learned of Bob’s passing.
I was a registrar in Anaesthesia for a year at QVH during the mid nineties. He was the senior operating department practitioner. He told us he had no formal training but was at QVH from the inception of the NHS. He learnt all his skills “on the job” and was extremely knowledgeable and capable. He had a great rapport with all the surgeons and anaesthetists and other staff. He was very generous with his knowledge and time.
After hours he ran the doctor’s mess, and we often had a pint after a busy day before going home (under the driving limit of course).
He was/is a legend at QVH.
j says:
September 25, 2024 at 7:38 pmI knew Bob as a child when he worked with my father, Dr Russell Davies, at the Queen Victoria Hospital, and he was a frequent visitor at our home.He was a lovely gentle man and I was lucky enough to catch up with him last year in E.G. when he showed me around the Museum and the hospital. I was saddened to see that the ward names have been removed and therefore some of the history lost.
Bob was enthusiastic about history and memorials of the Guinea Pigs and the QVH and I hope that his hard work will be remembered and continued.
Colin Pateman says:
October 15, 2024 at 6:13 pmDear Bob a gentleman in every respect, kind caring and respectful. Bob kindly wrote a forward for one of my aviation books. The Guinea Pig Club featured in as many ways as possible and Bob was always keen to keep the history of the ‘Guinea Pigs’ alive. I am proud to call Bob a good friend, he will be missed very much, none more so than his family and within the walls of the East Grinstead Museum. Thank you for everything. Colin Pateman.
Bill Kilvington says:
October 17, 2024 at 10:02 amI knew Bob from both my time working at Queen Victoria and also through the College of Operating Department Practitioners. Bob was a stalwart supporter of our profession and was responsible for training a great many future practitioners.
I am proud to have known Bob and extend our deepest condolences to his family and close friends. Know, Bob left his mark on our profession and the service of surgical and anaesthetic care.
Iris Hillery says:
October 26, 2024 at 10:29 amI was so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was so helpful to me with my research into the Guinea Pug Club. He has worked tirelessly to support Club members and latterly to keep the memories alive. I know how much he will be missed as he touched so many lives. May Bob rest in peace and rise in glory.
Simon stacey says:
November 4, 2024 at 6:44 pmI worked with Bob, and trained as an ODP with him at QVH many years ago, he was a kind man and was respected by all who worked with him. Im sad to hear of his passing and will hold him in fond memory.
Wyn Pockett ne Lloyd Jones says:
December 15, 2025 at 11:25 amMy deepest sympathy to Ian and Neil and Bob’s wider family. I first met Bob’s wife Anne when we started our nurse training in Llandudno in 1954. Anne and our friend Shirley after training went to East Grinstead a couple of years later I followed them there. They kept telling me what a wonderful hospital it was, and they were right. It was there Anne met Bob and married in Conway, we all went home for the wedding. They were so happy she had met a most kind and caring gentleman in all sense of the word. He was a joy to work with and have as a friend. I last spoke to him this time last year, we chatted just before Christmas each year and caught up with what was happening in our lives. I had hoped to go this year to see the new museum but unfortunately could not. I was fortunate to work in the QVH when Mr Archibald Mcindoe ,Dr Russell Davies and Cyril , Sister Hutchings and many others. In the early 60’s the Guinea Club was thriving .When I moved to Surrey I was fortunate to meet up with Jimmy Wright again and become involved in the setting up the Spelthorne Talking Newspaper.
Dear Bob rest in peace with Anne.
I was phoning to have our chat, when no reply a couple of times looked on line yesterday . So sorry.