Staff at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Centre at the Freeman in Newcastle were joined by Sir Bobby's family - including Lady Elsie - to mark what would have been his 90th birthday.
Sir Bobby would have turned 90 on February 18 - and a day before Lady Elsie was among those to head to the centre in Newcastle to mark the occasion. This comes during a week where a commemorative fanzine - Bobby '90, featuring contributions from figures including Gary Lineker - has been released to mark the former Newcastle and England coach's contribution.
Fourteen years ago, Sir Bobby was surprised on his 76th - and final - birthday by a special cake as he formally opened the cancer trials centre. He often described the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation as his "last and greatest" team.
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The foundation was set up to support better treatment and detection of cancer - and has raised more than £18m since it opened. Around 400 patients are referred to the Sir Bobby Robson Centre each year - and there are 30 clinical trials currently active.
Sir Bobby’s son, Mark Robson, said: "Dad was receiving treatment for cancer when he launched his Foundation. You could say he was taking on too much when he was ill but that was Dad. He was always very driven. He was diagnosed with cancer five times and it was because of those experiences that he fully understood the vital importance of the work funded through his Foundation. He said it was like taking a bad situation and making a good thing of it.
"All the family were so proud of him, always, but especially so knowing how hard he worked to ensure the success of his Foundation. We wish he was here today to see how much it’s gone on to achieve and to see the ongoing support it gets. I know he’d be very touched by that and I also know he’d be very sure to tell us to keep at it!"
Sir Bobby’s birthday has been marked all week with the football community and Sir Bobby Robson Foundation coming together to remember him in a wide range of different ways this week under the "Bobby ’90" tag - a deliberate echo of Italia '90 - the World Cup where Sir Bobby led England to the semi-finals. .
Teri Bayliss, director at Newcastle Hospitals Charity said: "The legacy that Sir Bobby left is something truly special, so it seemed only right to celebrate his milestone 90th birthday with some cake at the centre that bears his name! We were very proud to supply hot drinks and sweet treats for the occasion."
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is a fund forming part of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity.
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