Obituary: Robert Jardine FBDO R

Fiona Anderson with Robert Jardine

ABDO was saddened to learn of the death of Robert Jardine on Wednesday 20 September.

Robert, who was known to many in optics, was a stalwart of ABDO and its predecessor, the Association of Dispensing Opticians (ADO).

Born in Scotland, but living most of his life ‘down south’ in Kent, Robert trained to be an optician, like his older brother George. Before his training, he was a keen footballer, and may have joined the ranks of professional football, but its loss was optics gain. The records show he joined the ADO in 1954 – some four years before the creation of the Opticians Act and the General Optical Council. Robert set to his training, and duly qualified as a dispensing optician and was proud of his FADO suffix.

Robert took a leave of absence from his beloved optics to serve his country when he received his call-up papers for National Service. Robert hoped he would be assigned to a role similar to his ‘day job’. Sent to Singapore, to Changi Hospital, Robert was assigned to the Ophthalmology Department.

Working alongside a team of ophthalmologists, supporting them in triage and surgery, Robert very quickly found his niche. His easy nature and quest for knowledge saw him assisting the surgeons to enable swift progress of the daily ‘list’, which made him a popular addition to the team and meant they could finish earlier in the day on successful completion of all surgery. Then the real work began as the tennis court beckoned.

On return to the UK after his spell in Singapore, Robert retuned to being a DO. He worked in various practices, owning his own, and working for others. He also rose to the challenge of teaching and spent time as a lecturer at City & Islington College in the early 1970s. He was involved in optical politics and served as ADO president in 1976/1977.

Those who knew Robert, knew a highly principled man who believed passionately in the role of the DO. He was also a man who wore his heart on his sleeve – what you saw was what you got. Robert was a keen supporter of the ADO and ABDO but was never one to shy away or voice an opinion if he felt the trajectory or route being taken was not in the best interests of the profession, his colleagues or the Association.

I first met Robert as a trainee practical examiner. He had been examining since 1969, so a better person to learn from I could not hope to find. He was diligent in his care for candidates, doing everything he could to get them through, and generous with his time to trainee examiners, providing constructive criticism and honest feedback to enable them to achieve their goal.

As a fellow Scot, we of course ‘clicked’ and spent many days working alongside each other – both in the UK and overseas on examining duties. We also undertook the ABDO Refraction qualification together, a discipline we examine in overseas. We worked hard to achieve that qualification, and it was in Robert’s beloved Singapore that we utilised our qualification and examined candidates in refraction there and in Kuala Lumpur. We also spent many evenings in each other’s company and I, like many others, very much enjoyed Robert’s company. He had a keen wit, was mischievous and was a great raconteur.

Professionally, Robert achieved many accolades. As previously said, he served as ADO president, and he was awarded the ABDO Medal of Excellence in 2010 at the ABDO Conference in Bristol. On receiving this award, Robert said he “had loved every minute” he had been an ABDO member.

He was also nominated several times for ABDO Life Membership, mainly for his service to optics, the Association and exams, and was awarded this in 2022. Robert was one of very few members who received both awards. On receiving the latter, Robert said he “was honoured to receive the Life Membership award. I will always be a supporter of ABDO, and I treasure the many happy memories”.

The last time I spent time with Robert was at a small gathering to wish him well as he retired from the ABDO exams team in July of 2022. He was overwhelmed by the kind words said on behalf of ABDO by Mark Chandler, ABDO head of examinations and registration. Mark said he truly was “one of a kind” and touched the lives of many people. He was not wrong there.

I am not alone in saying I will miss him. His pet name for me was ‘Wee Jimmy’ – a typical west coast of Scotland term of endearment. Others he called ‘darling’ in his own typical way.

Our sincere condolences to his sons, the wider family, friends and colleagues.