"It is with great sadness that I have to let you all know that Paul Veys, Director of the BMT unit at Great Ormond St Hospital in London from 1994-2020, passed away on Saturday 18th July. He died at home peacefully with his family around him.
Paul was a colossus in the field of paediatric BMT who built and led the GOS BMT unit. He was a superb clinician who was totally committed to doing the best for children under his care and inspired a whole generation of transplanters both within the UK and Europe. One of Paul’s greatest qualities is his leadership. He had a vision to make transplant safer and better: he pioneered reduced intensity conditioning in children with non-malignant disease, was an early advocate for cord blood transplant and led the first trial of allogeneic CAR T cell therapy. That took enormous vision, courage and self-sacrifice. He was a natural leader with a winning smile, boundless enthusiasm and unconditional support for those who worked on his team. He genuinely believed in the power of collaboration and played a leading role in the UK Paediatric BMT Group, EBMT Inborn Errors and Paediatric Diseases Working Parties and PIDTC. Outside work Paul loved playing football, skiing and astronomy but above all his family. He was a kind, generous man and a wonderful mentor to so many of us, inspiring us to continue his mission. He touched the lives of so many, including over 2000 children transplanted on the unit and was loved by everyone who knew him. A life well lived. A great light has passed but Paul leaves a remarkable legacy."