Brian Neville, who has died aged 77, was a key figure in the development of paediatric neurology and neurodisability in Britiain. He was the first UK professor of paediatric neurology, appointed in 1989 at the Institute of Child Health, University College London, and Great Ormond Street hospital.
Brian was born in Bexleyheath, south-east London, to Louie and George Neville. Brian and his mother moved out of London during the second world war, and his early years were spent in the idyllic setting of Brough, Cumbria. He later spoke fondly of the local women who taught him about farming life.
On the family’s return to Bexleyheath, he went to Upland primary school and then to St Dunstan’s college in Catford. Brian qualified in medicine at Guy’s hospital and soon came under the influence of Ronnie MacKeith, Philip Evans and Paul Polani, who inspired him to develop an interest in child neurology. When MacKeith retired, he took on his mantle as a consultant and director of the Newcomen Centre at Guy’s hospital.
Brian was an incredible support to me in my pursuit of becoming a paediatric neurologist, as he was to many trainees. He was an outstanding mentor who always found the balance between getting the research project done and allowing his mentee to develop their own ideas and direction. He always maintained an enthusiastic curiosity in the clinical problems of his patients. His priority was the children he cared for and it was they who inspired his internationally renowned research in multiple areas, including epilepsy, movement disorders and acute brain injury.
Brian was key to the development of the British Paediatric Neurology Association and served as its secretary (1980-83) and president (1986-89). He was a founding member of the European Paediatric Neurology Society and the European Academy of Childhood Disability, which he chaired for 12 years.
Brian’s vision of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of his patients led him to a long involvement with the charity Young Epilepsy, that evolved from St Piers, a specialist school for children with epilepsy in Lingfield, Surrey. He was instrumental in the development of the charity and its expansion into medical research of the childhood epilepsies. He also helped create the Prince of Wales’s chair of childhood epilepsy and between 2004 and 2007 was its first incumbent. The research centre at Young Epilepsy now bears his name.
Music was a huge part of Brian’s life, from playing the organ at his local Methodist church, to putting on music parties during which everyone could participate and enjoy making music together. For many years, he was also the chairman of Petts Wood playgroup for children with special needs.
He married Heather Gemmell in 1964, and she survives him, with their four children, Kate, Lisa, Andrew and Rachel, and seven grandchildren.
Brian Neville obituary
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