REMEMBERING a friendship spanning 14 years, the Ipswich surgeon who treated Sir Bobby said today it had been “a great privilege” to have been his friend.

Lizzie Parry

REMEMBERING a friendship spanning 14 years, the Ipswich surgeon who treated Sir Bobby said today it had been “a great privilege” to have been his friend.

Huw Davies, an expert in oral and maxillofacial surgery, first met the former Ipswich and England manager, in 1995 when he was referred to him as a patient, treating him for a malignant melanoma growing behind his eye.

The Ipswich consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who Sir Bobby credited with saving his life, said as a patient he would remember him as “very positive and very brave.”

“He was so enthusiastic, so enthusiastic about the outcome,” he said. “And later up until the time of his death he was very keen to help other people in similar situations to his own, he was very unselfish, it is human nature when you are ill to be concerned just about yourself but he wasn't.

“He has done such a lot to raise funds for this hospital and for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”

For the full interview see tomorrow's paper.