We’re sad to have to share the news that Paddy Stevenson, previously Chair of Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee (REC), has died.
All of our thoughts are with Paddy’s daughter, Hannah, with his family and friends, with his REC colleagues, and with the staff who worked most closely with him.
Paddy joined the Research Ethics Service over 20 years ago and has been an amazing advocate for the service.
Not only did Paddy support his own REC, progressing to Chair of the Tyne and Wear South REC in 2007 and then the Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 REC in 2018 but Paddy also frequently co-opted to help out other RECs and sat on interview panels to recruit new REC members.
Although Paddy retired in April 2024, he continued to keep in touch with the members and staff of Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 REC.
Those who knew Paddy will remember him for his warm, welcoming personality, wonderful sense of humour and his love of Berwick Rangers!
Nigel Goodfellow, Chair of Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 REC“It’s difficult to put into words the contribution Paddy made to the world of research both in terms of his ‘day job' and the HRA REC community.
“With his unique style, he supported so many people across the years, encouraging and guiding researchers and ethics committee members to develop personally as well as professionally and never losing the focus of quality compassionate care in research.
“His passion for enabling high-class research was only matched by his passion for Star Wars and Berwick Rangers Football Club, both of which frequently came up in our ethical deliberations.
"We will miss him in so many ways - but remain grateful that our paths have crossed.”
Mark Sidaway, Approvals Specialist at the HRA“Paddy was very welcoming to me as a HRA member of Newcastle and North Tyneside 1 REC. He had a real interest in my background and a shared affinity with Newcastle, where I studied at university when he was working in nursing.
“He was also good natured, humorous and made me feel very valued. He asked that I sit next to him at our next face-to-face meeting, because he wanted a good chat about everything, and he was interested in my thoughts and input.
“So many people have told me how much he contributed to research and ethics, and how encouraging he was. It was a privilege working with him and he will be dearly missed.”