Paul Vernon obituary

My husband, Paul Vernon, who has died aged 75, first made his mark as an outstanding student at University College London, where he read English in the 1950s. This led to him teaching for two years at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, and for seven years at King's College London. Paul had a maverick disposition and students enjoyed his company; university life was enlivened by his wit and warmth. Paul grew up in Southampton, where he attended Taunton's school and his parents ran a youth hostel. Thanks to his interest in people (and the trauma of evacuation, aged five, during the second world war), he began training as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in the 1960s with the British Association of Psychotherapists. In 1969, he became a teacher, first at Crown Woods school in Eltham, south-east London, where we met. We married in 1971. Paul began to work at schools for "maladjusted" children, moving to Colebrooke school in Islington, north London, and Gideon school in Wandsworth, south London, during the 1970s. He soon demonstrated an ability to help emotionally disturbed young people, beginning his life's work in psychotherapy. His intuition with youngsters and his experience in group and adult therapy led to an NHS post at a child and family clinic in Watford. There, for 20 years, Paul worked with children, adolescents and parents, helping them to explore ways out of what sometimes seemed like impossible situations. In professional organisations, Paul demonstrated his socialist convictions. A founder-member of the London Centre for Psychotherapy and of the Forum for Independent Psychotherapists, he fought over the years for his vision of a patient-centred, democratic, unified psychotherapy profession. While never seeking high office, he freely gave his time, energy and knowledge. He was skilled in the ways of committees, thanks to his active Marxist background at university. Challenging and articulate, he was a force to be reckoned with. Paul will be remembered for his wisdom and compassion regarding human nature. The many patients who attended sessions with him, some of them for years on end, would no doubt speak of his gift of empathy. He accepted and respected people for who they are, guiding them to reach such acceptance and respect for themselves. Paul was a passionate opera enthusiast, a keen botanist and a great cook. He leaves a wonderful collection of music, an unruly garden of wild flowers, and memories for family and friends of lengthy meals and fine conversation. I survive him, along with our sons, Tom and Nick.