Sydney (Bobby) Grieve was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the son of John Miller Grieve, accountant, and his wife Mary Florence Tucker. He was educated at Pretoria Boys’ High School and the Univerity of Witwatersrand, qualifying in medicine in 1939, after clinical studies at the General Hospital Johannesburg.

After the usual house appointments, Grieve joined the South African Medical Corps in 1941 and served with them in South Africa, India and Egypt until 1946, being demobilized in London, England; the year when he also obtained his membership of the College. During this period, as a junior doctor at the King Edward Hospital, Durban, he met Jane (Jean) Morrow Cook, a nursing sister, whom he married in 1946. They were a devoted couple and their marriage was an exceedingly happy one, but they had no children.

Grieve was an outstanding practitioner of clinical medicine: first physician in charge at the Coronation Hospital, University of Witwatersrand, then successively senior physician, principle physician, associate professor and, finally, professor and head of the department of medicine. He cherished the long traditions of the medical profession and will be remembered by generations of students, doctors and patients, for his kindness and sincerity.

Bobby was a man of shy charm, hidden beneath a protective brusque exterior. He was an enthusiastic follower of sports of all kinds. In the end he faced a long and exhausting illness with great courage. His wife survived him.

Sir Gordon Wolstenholme
V Luniewska