A history of support for our hospitals
There is a long history of charitable support for the hospitals of Newcastle upon Tyne, setting a foundation for the outstanding quality of care we deliver today. In 1886, John Fleming, a Newcastle Solicitor gave £25,000 to build a new hospital for sick children in memory of his wife, who had died in 1882.
The Fleming Memorial Hospital at Moor Edge was officially opened by Lord Armstrong on 26 September 1888. In 1988 the work of the hospital was transferred to the Fleming Wing of the Royal Victoria Infirmary and as the services and expertise became so specialist and expansive, the Great North Children’s Hospital was established in 2010.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary was built using donations from ship owner and philanthropist Mr John Hall and industrialist and philanthropist Lord Armstrong, on a ten acre site at Castle Leazes, provided by the Freemen of Newcastle and Newcastle Corporation. Work began in 1900 and the new hospital was opened by Edward VII on 11 July 1906.
In recent years, campaigns and appeals have been used to assist our hospitals with badly needed equipment. In 1977, The Freeman Hospital opened and a year later, Daisy Clark MBE launched the Charlie Bear Cancer Appeal in memory of her late husband Charlie with the aim of purchasing the first CT Scanner for The Freeman Hospital.
This tradition of charitable campaigns continues today with the charity launching its largest ever £30m appeal for funds to build The Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a world-leading centre for cancer trials.
Newcastle Hospitals Charity
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Early playing career begins
1950- Player, Langley Park Juniors
- Player, Fulham (1950 to 1956)
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Moves to West Bromwich Albion
1956- Player, West Bromwich (1956 to 1962)
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England debut period
1957- Player, England (1957 to 1962), 20 caps, 4 goals
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Returns to Fulham
1962- Player, Fulham (1962 to 1966)
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Coaching begins with the FA
1965- Staff Coach, English FA
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First managerial role
1968- Manager, Fulham
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Ipswich Town era begins
1969- Manager, Ipswich Town (1969 to 1982)
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FA Cup success
1978- FA Cup Winner, Ipswich Town
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European triumph with Ipswich
1981- UEFA Cup Winner, Ipswich Town
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England manager appointment
1982- Manager, England (1982 to 1990)
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Moves to PSV Eindhoven
1990- Manager, PSV Eindhoven (1990 to 1992)
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Dutch League Championship
1991- Dutch League Championship, PSV Eindhoven (1991 to 1992)
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Health battle begins and next chapter starts
1992- First diagnosed with cancer whilst managing PSV Eindhoven
- Manager, Sporting Lisbon (1992 to 1993)
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Transition year after Sporting
1993- Manager, Sporting Lisbon (to 1993)
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FC Porto era and Portuguese Cup
1994- Manager, FC Porto (1994 to 1996)
- Portuguese Cup Winner, FC Porto
- Super Cup Winner, FC Porto (1994 to 1995)
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Melanoma diagnosis
1995- Diagnosed with a malignant melanoma whilst managing FC Porto
- Portuguese League Championship, FC Porto (1995 to 1996)
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Barcelona appointment
1996- Manager, Barcelona (1996 to 1997)
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Barcelona honours and technical role
1997- European Cup Winners Cup Winner, Barcelona
- Spanish Cup Winner, Barcelona
- Spanish Super Cup Winner, Barcelona
- Technical Director, Barcelona
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Returns to PSV Eindhoven
1998- Manager, PSV Eindhoven
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Newcastle United appointment
1999- Manager, Newcastle United (1999 to 2004)
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Knighthood
2002- Knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List
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Honorary Doctorate
2003- Honorary Doctorate from Newcastle University
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Newcastle United chapter concludes
2004- Manager, Newcastle United (to 2004)
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Honorary Freeman of Newcastle
2005- Honorary Freeman of the City of Newcastle
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Cancer returns and major surgery
2006- Cancer strikes again in Sir Bobby’s lungs
- Tumour removed from his brain, leaving partial paralysis
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Lifetime Achievement Award and further diagnosis
2007- Tumours return to Sir Bobby’s lungs
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
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Foundation launch and civic honours
2008- Launches the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation
- Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Ipswich
- Honorary Freeman of the City of Durham
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Legacy strengthened
2009- Officially opens the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre within the Northern Centre for Cancer Care
- Sir Bobby dies peacefully at home aged 76
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Works begin on the Sir Bobby Robson Institute
2026- Works starts on building the Sir Bobby Robson Institute at the Freeman Hospital, a £30m building raised from funds given in Sir Bobby’s name
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Official opening of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute
2028- Official opening of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute
