The revered doctor who became a friend to George Best as he treated him for liver failure, has passed away.
Prof Roger Williams died last Sunday following a cardiac event.
He became a focus for the public during Bestie’s very public battle to survive alcoholism, initially in 2001 when he was admitted to London’s Cromwell Hospital.
And again, in 2002, when the professor performed a liver transplant on the former Man Utd star.
Tragically, it was Prof Williams who broke the news to George’s family in late November 2005, that his life was ebbing away.
Bestie’s sister Barbara, said: “I’m deeply saddened to hear this news. I’ll never forget the day that the Prof called us into the family room in ICU of the Cromwell Hospital and told us that George wasn’t going to survive.
“Roger had been described as a ‘man of steel’ and it was heartbreaking to see him with tears coursing down his face.
“Today we extend sincere condolences to Roger’s family. The medical world and society has lost a wonderful person.”
The professor was the Director of the Institute of Hepatology, London where he treated George throughout his time at the Cromwell Hospital.
And he openly admitted to becoming friends with Bestie despite it starting out as a doctor-patient relationship and he later accepted the family’s invitation to speak at George’s funeral.
Roger Williams was described yesterday as being “hugely important in the shaping and development of hepatology in Britain, through a long and illustrious career”.
His colleagues said he had seen the importance of liver transplantation very early in its development and as a result the need to establish a national program within the UK. And it was Prof Williams diverse research and academic interests that allowed every field of hepatology to benefited from his vision and drive for excellence.
Dr Alastair McKinlay said: “Where others saw barriers, Roger would see opportunities on which he focused all his formidable intellect and determination.
“The lives of many patients with liver disease were greatly improved by his work. A huge cohort of hepatology trainees were influenced and inspired by his leadership and went on to develop the speciality here and across the world.
"He remained an active and passionate advocate for improvement in the care of patients with liver disease to the end of his life, most recently through the Lancet Commission.”
