It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of our founders, Dr Thomas Wynter Backhouse, who sadly died on Friday 1st July.
Born in Horwich in Lancashire in 1922, Dr Backhouse was a well-respected consultant who was instrumental in creating The Myton Hospices. Dr Backhouse moved from Ruislip to Kenilworth in 1957 after successfully securing his first position as a consultant at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, becoming the head of department at the hospital some 10 years later.
In 1970, Dr Backhouse oversaw the development of a new cancer treatment facility at Walsgrave Hospital. During his time at the hospital, Dr Backhouse came into contact with a growing number of patients and families who needed support during the later stages of their illness.
This knowledge led Dr Backhouse, along with the Bishop of Coventry and others, to launch a fundraising campaign in 1972 to found a hospice in Warwick. Their fundraising efforts were successful and in 1982 they opened our first site in Warwick.
On behalf of every patient, family member and friend who has been cared for and supported by Myton, we would like to sincerely thank Dr Backhouse for making all of this possible and for working tirelessly to ensure that people living with a terminal illness have access to the highest level of specialist care and support.
We would like to express our deepest condolences for the Backhouse family’s loss. As an organisation, we will do all we can to uphold Dr Backhouse’s legacy of providing the best possible care for our patients and their loved ones.