Hi all,

My beloved husband Robin, my best friend, my everything, a very caring father to Felix, Oscar and Max by his ex-partner Rosemary, and a brother to Pip and Garnet left us on Sunday, 20th November 2022, after fighting prostate cancer for almost two years. Robin was also an incredible lecturer, a mentor, an inspiration and a help to so many design and mechanical engineering students and colleagues for over 20 years at London South Bank University.

Robin was only 59, and this was way too early to die. All of us will miss Robin dearly and so his cheeky smile.

Robin started to experience excruciating pain in his right thigh and hip back in December 2020 and little did we know, we found out he had advanced prostate cancer, which had already spread to his bones. Robin never smoked, wasn't drinking too much (beer within limits, no vodka - thank you!), and always counted his five a day. It was rare he wouldn't make a smoothie in the morning, and he would also subject us regularly to eating healthy salads & soups at home. He loved cycling on one of his 3 Bromptons (not all at once & he let me use one of them) and generally led a very healthy lifestyle. This shows cancer doesn't care who you are and how you live your life. Think of BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull (age 66) or James Michael Tyler, the actor who played Gunther in Friends (just like Robin, age 59), who both also died of prostate cancer recently.

Prostate cancer is one of the most curable cancers if caught early. Unfortunately, there is still no good/suitable screening method, especially for the aggressive type that develops very quickly and kills too many people in their prime years. A high PSA marker in one's blood doesn't necessarily mean one has prostate cancer, and biopsies can often do more damage than help. 
And this is why I'm asking people not to bring any flowers to Robin's funeral, and please don't send any to me. Instead of that, please donate to Prostate Cancer Research. And if you are a male, especially past your 40th birthday, in Robin's words, have that finger up your bum! It might mean you are here for the next 30 years instead of having your heartbroken other half sobbing over a keyboard and writing this.

Robin's funeral will take place at 1pm on Monday, 5th December 2022. Unfortunately, due to the venue's limited capacity, we will only share details of the funeral with family, friends, and close colleagues. However, there will be a live stream of the event. 

Details of the live stream:
Website: https://watch.obitus.com
Username: teyu6087
Password: 414407

There is a plan to hold a memorial for Robin sometime at the beginning of next year, which anyone will be welcome to attend. 

Robin's family and I would also like to thank everyone who helped us through Robin's treatment and life in general. For all your visits, wishes, cakes, flowers, fish&chips, doughnuts, blankets, garden parties and many lifts to the hospital. You all know who you are, and we will be forever grateful for that.

Also, a big thank you is owed to the following people:
- dr Mehran Afshar - Robin's Consultant Oncologist who wasn't giving up on Robin till the very end
- Diane O'Connell - Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist from the Oncology team at St.George's Hospital that always answered our emails promptly
- dr Vishal Jayakar - Consultant Haematologist who knew and treated Robin for over five years for his ITP (Immune thrombocytopenia)
- Becky Hicks - Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist, who also cared for Robin for a long time & organised weekly platelet transfusions for him in the last months of his life. They did make a difference!
- Emma Nicholas - our designated nurse from Royal Trinity Hospice, for her guidance, home visits & making sure Robin's wish to die at home is fulfilled
- Hannah Leach - physiotherapist from Royal Trinity Hospice, for sorting out quickly all the home equipment for Robin
- Stuart Carter - counsellor from Royal Trinity Hospice, for counselling me & helping me stay sane during these difficult months 
- and the enormous thanks to all district nurses that have done a fantastic job visiting us every day & keeping our spirits up - Angela, Roxanne, Tracey, Sarah & Doreender - we couldn't go through all of this without your help and hard work

Agata Jones with family


*** UPDATE on Tuesday 29/11/2022 - one week after starting to fundraise in Robin's memory ***

I have received a lovely message and thank you from Prostate Cancer Research. The below text is from them:

From all of us here at PCR, thank you for all the kind donations given in memory of Robin. To read the outpouring of love for Robin is extremely moving and makes the donations given in his memory even more meaningful here at PCR.

People affected by prostate cancer need better treatments, and research is the only way to turn this hope into reality. There are 400,000 men in the UK living with prostate cancer, with 52,300 diagnosed every single year. Donations fund our 19 scientific teams and 62 world-class scientists. Your donation will help fund vital research and tackle inequalities in prostate cancer care to address the ways the disease profoundly changes the lives of patients and families. If you would like to read more about some of our research projects, you can find our Autumn update here.

Your generous support helps give PCR’s scientists the financial support they need to make crucial breakthroughs in this vital medical care field. Thank you again.

PCR