We are sorry to report of the passing on Friday 13th July 2018, of Dr Sue Snowden. Sue was well known to many as the person responsible for the outpatient care of the renal transplant patients before Dr Joyce Popoola.

Sue came here from Dulwich Hospital in 1995 and many of the patients there followed in her footsteps. She is survived by her husband, known to many as the former Transplant Surgeon (Guy’s, Dulwich and St George’s Hospitals) Mr Michael Bewick, her son Tom and daughter Anna.  She was held in great esteem by patients and colleagues alike.  Our sincere condolences go to her family.   

Her former colleague, Dr Stephen Nelson said:

"I worked with Sue Snowden from 1992 and she was always a source of sage advice for patients and staff. She delivered care from an era when physicians were always available for advice and consultation, this was greatly valued by all who knew her. Above all she was a very modest person who did not push herself forward. She made a particular point of keeping her general medical skills up to date as well as being a transplant specialist, this was because patients valued her opinion on all matters medical even if they had other specialists involved with their care. She is of course greatly missed."

Our former St George's KPA chairman and long-time patient of Dr Snowden, Chris Eliot, said:

"It is with great sadness that Jane and I heard of Sue Snowdon's passing away.   She was a wonderful Renal Consultant and expert councillor but most of all a friend - not only to us but to all the patients who were lucky enough to be cared by her.

She will always be remembered fondly and our thoughts are with Mick, Tom and Anna."

 

We feel sure that there are many readers who would like to leave their thoughts and messages about Sue for others including her family to hear so please send those to us at info@sgkpa.org.uk. We will endeavour to publish all we are sent. Please mark them for the family only if you don’t want them to be published.

Respones to our article from other patients

Suzanne B said:

I am so sorry to hear that Sue is no longer with us. Sue helped me through my transplant in my early 20s (over 20 years ago now) and was adamant that it was just a bump in the road and shouldn’t stop me from doing what I wanted in life. She actively encouraged me to get back to working abroad and, even though it meant she would have to care for me from afar, she was happy to,  because she knew it was my dream.

I hope Sue knew the difference she made to mine and so many other patients lives. I for one will never forget her for it.

May she rest in peace.

Ula P said:

It was a shock to hear that Dr Sue pass away. She was a lovely person. She was always there for me and gave me encouragement. She will be very sadly missed. My condolences go to her family.

Josepha Murray said:

I was saddened to hear of Sue Snowden’s death. It seemed that she retired such a short time ago and was surely far too young to die. I had great respect for Sue’s knowledge. However I valued most her gentle manner and her genuine interest in me and my family. She always seemed to have time to listen to my worries and to hear about my family. Her room with its personal items felt like a safe haven.

Sue J (nee B)

I have only just read that Sue passed away in July of last year.I was a transplant patient for many years and Mick Bewick did my first transplant in 1964 at Guys hospital when I was 14 years old. When I was 28 (1984), I had a 2nd transplant in Dulwich Hospital and that was when I was put under the care of Sue Snowdon. She was such a kind person and so easy to relate to. She would always speak frankly and I put my total trust in her and Mick Bewick. When Sue and Mick transferred to St Georges I transferred with them because I could not imagine myself being under any other team.

When Mick retired I remained under Sue's. She was an expert in her field and I respected her opinion greatly.

I had my 3rd transplant in 2018 at Guy's hospital and it brought back memories of when I was a child. I will never forget Sue's kindness and her openness. I could talk to her about anything and she would always have the solution. She must be missed by so many people.I feel so very sad for Mick and her family. He too was my hero and saved my life so many times.

Mandy said:

It was with such deep sadness that I have only just heard that Sue passed away last year. Above all, she was such a caring, knowledgeable and positive lady and conveyed this to all who were fortunate to be cared for by her. I had my transplant in 1994, performed by Mick and the care after the operation was second to none. She always encouraged me to treat it as ‘routine’ and to return to normality as soon possible. I have so much to be grateful for the donor, the surgeon and the amazing care. Thank you Sue - rest in peace.

Mick P said:

I am so sorry to have only just learnt of Sue’s death last year.
I first met Sue in February 1971 when she was working at Dulwich hospital and part of Vic Parson’s team of miracle workers.
I had my transplant in July 1971 “installed” by Mick Bewick down in Brighton and Sue looked after me on my return to Dulwich and this continued when she moved with the team to St Georges.
She was more like an older sister and when she retired we had a lovely hug in her office at St Georges. After that she also sent me a beautiful handwritten letter that I have kept and have just read again with tears in my eyes.
Nothing was too much trouble for her including being a sympathetic ear and confident on personal matters that were miles outside her medical remit.
There were countless lovely conversations with her over the years as my appointments (down to only every 4 months) became catch ups with her rather than medical consultations. She also arranged for my young daughters Laura and Anna to be screened when we were concerned about possible impact of my transplant on them.
I am eternally grateful to both Sue and the surgical skills of Mick for the past 48 years of my life that have been a gift that I am unable to repay.

Brian C said:

I first knew Sue back in 1971 when I was 20. I was to have Renal Dialysis and the moment we were introduced I took to her immediately. Over the coming months I grew to like her more and more. She had this uncanny knack in putting me at my ease and to allay my fears. Later on I had to prepare my own kiil dialyser with my mother for home dialysis and Dr Snowden was advising and offering encouragement every step of the way.
On my visits to see her at Dulwich we chatted about not only medical matters but about our families, my teaching job, and life in general. It never seemed like that I was talking to a highly qualified doctor in charge of a busy renal unit, she was so natural and friendly.
It was with deep sadness that I discovered she had passed away. She will always be remembered for being the kind of person she was a dedicated, hardworking professional who put the needs of her patients first. My thoughts are with Mick Bewick, her husband, they made a formidable team. It was Mick who did my first transplant which lasted nearly thirty years. He also did my second transplant but regretably had to be aborted. In 2002 I had my third transplant which is still going strong. I owe a great deal to Mike & Sue and I'll always be very grateful. Rest in Peace Sue Rest in Peace Sue and eternal love and thanks to Mick and the family