Professor Paul Kennedy unexpectedly passed away on 13 September 2016.

Paul founded the Department of Clinical Psychology at the NSIC, Stoke Mandeville Hospital. He enjoyed the interconnection between clinical, training and research work throughout his career and sought to inspire and encourage trainee and newly qualified clinical psychologists to be at the forefront of healthcare. Paul was Trust Head of Clinical Psychology at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Joint Director of the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and founding Trustee of Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR). He was the founding Chair of the Multidisciplinary Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (MASCIP) and European Spinal Psychology Association (ESPA).

From a first post in clinical health psychology at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, Paul moved to the NSIC in 1988. He developed clinical psychology services throughout Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. In 1997 he joined the Oxford Training Course, becoming a Fellow of Harris Manchester College and Professor of Clinical Psychology at University of Oxford in 2006.

Paul published over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals, was editor of over 7 books and contributed to over 15 book chapters. He inspired hundreds of clinical psychology trainees during his career and supervised 27 postgraduate dissertations. Paul was the leading British authority on coping and adjustment in spinal cord injury (SCI). He developed the Stoke Mandeville Needs Assessment and Goal Planning Programme, which has been adopted by spinal centres in the UK and overseas. This programme was a finalist for the 2016 Health Service Journal Awards for adoption and diffusion of best practice.

Prof Kennedy received many awards during his career: the Golden Helix Award from Hewlett Packard European Healthcare 1995, the Lars Sullivan Award 1999, the Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Psychologists and Social Workers in Spinal Cord Injury 2002, the Guttmann Prize of DMGP 2011, and the Spinal Injuries Association 'Outstanding Psychologist' prize in 2014. He was Visiting Fellow of the New South Wales Government in 2006 and Prince Fellow of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 2000. In 2004 he received the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Chairman's Award alongside NSIC colleagues in 2009 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Paul was Associate Editor of the ISCoS JournalSpinal Cord and served on a number of additional Editorial boards. He had diverse interests outside psychology, including walking, tennis and music. He also had a passion for radio and had worked as an occasional reporter for BBC Radio Bedfordshire, a highlight of which was an interview with comedian Dave Allen. Paul was exceptionally hospitable and a connoisseur of good food and wine. He had a flair for recounting stories with a great sense of humour, and his colleagues and friends have many memories of delightful evenings of great conversation.

Paul’s family knew him as a devoted father and husband who always prioritised time with family. He greatly enjoyed family holidays, and keeping in touch with his extended family in Northern Ireland. He is survived by his wife, Oonagh, daughter Julia and son Dermot.

An online book has been established by his colleagues to capture his immense contribution to clinical psychology and SCI at http://www.kennedymemorial.org.uk. The central themes are his passion for SCI care, his values, vision, inspiration and ability to get alongside everyone no matter their rank or status. Prof Kennedy was a great mentor, leader, colleague and friend whose consultation was widely sought throughout the organisations in which he worked. His passing is a substantial professional loss for the SCI and clinical psychology communities, but more than that a deeply personal one because of the person that Paul was and the wisdom and integrity that he brought to all he was involved with.