Introduction

The occasion for the conference, which generated the papers in this edition of the BJP, was the retirement of Bob Hinshelwood from the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies in September 2009. I should say that it was more an almost-retirement in that Bob never retires and insomnia for him is the occasion for creativity; and he does continue as a professor to supervise Ph.D. students. But, learning that his engagement with the Centre was about to be radically reduced, I felt the loss that was coming. I knew that he did as well - that it marked a major change in his life and career. I wondered how his colleagues and friends, outside and inside the Centre, could share this experience with each other as well as with him, and show him our gratitude.

Roderick Main, the Director of the Centre, supported the idea that we should make an occasion; and a small group of us, including his partner, Gillian Walker, began to plan. We were clear that it should not be a eulogy, but an appreciation of his work. Bob has had a most distinguished career and has been a benefactor to many people. What stands out in all of his work is its secure base in clinical experience and theoretical clarity, but he is also committed to getting things done. It is important to remember that he worked in the National Health Service for 35 years: that he was Head of the Psychotherapy Department at St Bernard's Hospital, Ealing, and Clinical Director of the unique Cassel Hospital, Richmond; that he worked at the tough end, with psychotics (and wrote Suffering Insanity); that he was a founding member and early chair of the Association of Therapeutic Communities and co-founded, with Nick Manning, and edited the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities and the therapeutic communities section of the International Library of Group Analysis. He also made the