Dr Debasis Roychoudhury 1950-2020

Dr Debasis Roychoudhury, known as Roy to his friends, was born in Calcutta on 9 June 1950. He went to Calcutta Boys’ School where he took an interest in sport, especially hockey. After passing his Senior Cambridge examinations his parents sent him to Sevenoaks School in 1966 to study A-levels. He was a boarder in the International Centre and learned to adapt to a new environment and culture and played cricket for the school’s 2nd XI.

In 1968 Debasis went to London Hospital Medical College; he graduated with a BSC (Hons) in Biochemistry, and later a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. During those years he tried his hand at dramatics and joined the Tagoreans, the oldest Bengali cultural organisation in the UK. He played the bangle seller in Tagore’s Chandalika in London and toured with the group in a minibus around Europe. He also joined the university hockey club and won the trophy for the hospital in 1974.

Debasis went on to train in General Practice and gained further qualifications: Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine and Diploma in Cardiology. He spent his working life devoted to his patients. He took time out to serve as Medical Officer in the 1986 Hockey World Cup in London and the 1987 Veterans Tournament in Australia, in which he also played. He continued playing hockey internationally with Havering Hockey Club until 2008.

Debasis enjoyed the simplest pleasures in life. Throughout his life he touched many people with his generosity and kindness.

Debjani Roychoudhury