Dad dies of skin cancer (From York Press)

Tributes paid to York optician Tim Robson who has died of skin cancer

10:07am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in News By Jeremy Small

Tim Robson, who has died of skin cancer

A father-of-two has died of skin cancer at the age of only 47.

The family of Tim Robson today spoke of their grief over his death, saying they were “at a loss”.

Jayne Robson, Tim’s wife, said her husband, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2003, continued to work at Vision Express in Parliament Street as a contact lense optician only weeks before he died.

“He loved his job. He loved the people he worked with. He had a wide customer base and he was very dedicated,” she said. “He did have symptoms, but he worked through those as best he could.”

Jayne, of Salisbury Road, in the Leeman Road area of the city, said it was unclear why the disease had developed in her husband. Paying tribute to Tim, she said: “He was full of kindness and he related to such a lot of people.

“He was very popular and he was devoted to the kids.

“He was very outgoing and very open-hearted. He was very close to his family. The children and I are at a loss.”

Tim was born on November 26, 1961, in Whitley Bay, Northumberland. He moved to York in 1987, when he started managing an opticians in New Street that was owned by Dollond & Aitchison.

Jayne met Tim in 1989, when he interviewed her for a job at the opticians.

In 2003, he had a cancerous mole removed. Jayne said he was then regularly monitored. But in 2006 the disease returned and he had to have another operation, which was again successful.

“In between these times he lived a very full and active life, just like a normal life,” she said.

However, the cancer recurred earlier this year and Tim had more surgery in March.

“Again, he recovered extremely well from the operation. He returned to work for a short time and we were as normal as we could be.

“Shortly after that he developed symptoms and was admitted to hospital.”

Jayne said Tim was too poorly to be treated and he died on June 15 at home.

Jayne said Tim loved hill walking with his family and they spent a lot of time in the Lake District. He was a very good photographer and was fond of real ale, she said. Tim leaves his widow Jayne, children, Sophie, 15, and Matthew, 17, parents Doreen and George, and his sisters, Fiona and Jill.