Tom Mason obituary
My husband, Tom Mason, who has died of cancer aged 60, was a leading academic and mental health nurse who played a significant role in the development of forensic mental health and helped bring on a new generation of practitioners, teachers, researchers and writers in health and social care.
Since 2005, Tom had been head of department and professor of mental health and learning disability in the faculty of health and social care at the University of Chester. It was a position he cherished and he was utterly committed to working with colleagues in the pursuit of scholarly research. His last PhD supervision was at home, only two weeks before his death.
Tom was a Lancashire lad, born in Wigan and educated in Southport. He was a PT instructor for four years in the RAF, where he took formal qualifications and also became a ski instructor. In 1974 he joined Ashworth hospital, Merseyside, and went from registered learning disability nurse to registered mental health nurse and state registered nurse. Tom returned to Ashworth and, while working as a charge nurse, began a BSc at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he was taught by Joel Richman, his great mentor and inspiration.
Tom then began writing, publishing and conducting research. He began a PhD at the University of East Anglia while in clinical practice and at the same time took on a teaching role at Liverpool University. I met him in 1997 when we both attended job interviews at the university. He was appointed as senior lecturer (and I got my first lecturer's post).
After 30 years in clinical practice, with a wealth of experience in high security hospitals, Tom had an enviable ability to apply the "real world" of forensic nursing to academic papers, books, lectures and conference presentations. He had no fear of rocking the forensic establishment if the outcome was to enhance knowledge, provision of services or professional education. In 1999 Tom was awarded the International Association of Forensic Nurses achievement award.
Tom gave all he had and never stopped to count the cost of his generosity. He loved Bob Dylan and the sea and sailing. He had no time for pomposity or affectation and led with integrity, vision and compassion. His prolific output of more than 70 papers and 10 books will become part of the Tom Mason Foundation, which will continue to develop his work.
When Tom and I married in 2005, a colleague and friend said: "Clearly, your lives were interwoven" – and that was my greatest privilege.