John Theobalds was born on 26 July 1923 and died from lung cancer on 28 June 2002.

He received his medical education at Westminster Hospital and qualified from there MRCS Eng., LRCP Lond and MB, BS, Lond., in 1947. After national service, mainly at a military hospital in Egypt, he returned home and worked in general medicine hospitals at Westminster and the Royal Salop Hospital, before deciding on a career in psychiatry.

To this end he served as Registrar at Park Prenett Hospital, Basingstoke and later was appointed Consultant Psychiatrist, Lancaster Health Authority and Medical Director, Priority Services NHS Trust, Lancaster. He gained the DPM. Eng in 1960, was elected MRCPsych in 1971 and proceeded FRCPsych in 1986.

John's major interest was in the treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse and he opened Harvey House, currently relocated in the community in Lancaster, and was a founder trustee and committee member of Inward House, a residential therapeutic community for the treatment of drug and solvent misusers.

John's interests were widespread. He loved sport, particularly soccer: he was a lifetime Arsenal supporter and succeeded at one time to be given a trial for Chelsea! He enjoyed reading poetry and listening to music, particularly traditional jazz.

He leaves behind him his second wife, Brenda, whom he married in 1980.