Tony Black obituary
My friend Tony Black, who has died at 89 of pneumonia and emphysema, was my predecessor as chief psychologist at Broadmoor, the high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire.
The son of Walter, a civil servant, and Rose (nee Foster), a former nurse, Tony was born between the wars in Sanderstead, Surrey, into a secure, loving family. Early experiences of growing up with a mentally and physically disabled sister, and counselling members of his battalion while on national service with the Royal Artillery, set him on the pathway for life as a psychologist.
Tony attended Whitgift school in Croydon, then Cambridge University, where he completed his psychology degree in 1954 under Oliver Zangwill. It was there that he met his future wife Anne Shotton, a fellow student. They were married in 1955.
His training in clinical psychology started in Liverpool under the guidance of psychologists John Graham-White at Alder Hey hospital and Don Walton at Rainhill hospital, with whom he developed the Walton-Black memory test, which assesses the impact of brain dysfunction on patients’ short-term memory through a task requiring them to learn the meanings of new words.
In 1959, coinciding with the new Mental Health Act, Tony was appointed as the first clinical psychologist in Broadmoor hospital, working with Dr Patrick McGrath, the then physician superintendent. He established a vibrant psychology department, pioneering the development of clinical psychology and research at Broadmoor and more widely within the high secure psychiatric services.
Tony also promoted the role of clinical psychology on a national stage with his excellent communication skills, being frequently interviewed on radio or quoted in the national press. He provided a humane and balanced scientific view on what could otherwise become sensationalised reporting of forensic mental health issues.
He retired in 1986 on the eve of the hospital’s rebuilding programme. Appointed as his successor, I was indebted to him for his advice and support long afterwards. Moving to Herefordshire, in retired life he worked as a Mental Health Act Commissioner until 1990, and finished a groundbreaking British Psychological Society (BPS) working party report on improving services for mentally disordered offenders. In 2003 he published the book Broadmoor Interacts on the history of Broadmoor between the Mental Health Acts of 1959 and 1983.
Tony was universally liked and respected by patients, colleagues and friends for his calm and patient support. He always had time to listen and to share his knowledge and wisdom, often with a twinkle in his eye.
He is survived by Anne, and their children, Philip, David and Catherine, and eight grandchildren.