Obituary: Dr Saboor Mir, NHS Ophthalmologist and GP, Dies Aged 94
Dr Saboor Mir, an eminent ophthalmologist and family GP who dedicated more than four decades to the National Health Service, has passed away at the age of 94. His remarkable life and career spanned continents, from witnessing the traumatic partition of India in his youth to becoming a beloved medical professional in Hertfordshire.
Early Life and Escape from Partition Violence
Born in Gujranwala, near Lahore, in what was then British India, Saboor was one of seven children in a family where his father worked as a railways inspector. His formative years were marked by the brutal realities of the 1947 partition. As a student at Government higher secondary school, he experienced harrowing events firsthand, including seeing a Sikh neighbour violently attacked and thrown from a window. In a stroke of fortune, he narrowly avoided tragedy by missing a train that was later set ablaze by a mob.
Despite these distressing circumstances, Saboor excelled academically. He pursued higher education with determination, earning a BSc in botany from Government College Lahore in 1952, followed by an MBBS from King Edward Medical College in 1964. During his university years, he embraced campus life, serving as editor of the King Edward Medical College Union Gazette. After graduation, he contributed to public health by joining the World Health Organization's immunisation programme.
Medical Career in the United Kingdom
In 1965, Saboor married Razia Bukhsh, also a doctor, and the couple emigrated to the UK, arriving in Glasgow on Christmas Eve. They both secured positions at the Western Infirmary and Vale of Leven hospitals, laying the foundation for their lifelong commitment to British healthcare. By the 1970s, the family had relocated to Watford, Hertfordshire, where Saboor and Razia established a GP practice partnership in South Oxhey, where they would remain for the rest of their professional lives.
Alongside his GP duties, Saboor specialised as an eye surgeon and ophthalmologist at Charing Cross hospital in west London. There, he worked alongside the renowned Sir Eric Arnott, gaining recognition for his expertise and dedication. In 1995, upon retiring from the hospital, he received an award honouring 25 years of exemplary service. He continued his GP work until 2002, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to patient care.
Community Involvement and Personal Life
Saboor was a popular and respected figure in the local community. In the 1980s, he played a key role in fundraising efforts for the Watford Jamia mosque, collaborating with the then MP, Tristan Garel-Jones, to support the project. His contributions extended beyond medicine, reflecting a deep engagement with civic life.
In retirement, he found joy in simple pleasures, such as cooking traditional dishes like "nana rice" and parathas for his grandchildren. An avid cricket fan, he enjoyed watching matches at Lord's and following T20 games on television. His wife, Razia, predeceased him in 2018.
Dr Saboor Mir is survived by his children, Saqib, Sadaf, and the author of this obituary, along with seven grandchildren: Gabriela, Sancho, Catalina, Santiago, Benjamin, Samuel, and Alexander. His legacy as a skilled medical practitioner and a resilient individual who overcame adversity continues to inspire those who knew him.
