The Caroline Harry Thomas Memorial Fund

Caroline Harry Thomas (1957-2011) studied Law at the University of Exeter from 1975-78 and enjoyed a prestigious legal career as a QC. She will be remembered as one of the most distinguished medical lawyers of her generation, as well as an inspiring role model and a wonderful lifelong friend to many of her Exeter contemporaries.

Her obituary in The Times (9 February 2012) described her as a ‘barrister with an intuitive feel for the human, ethical and legal complexities of clinical negligence cases’. Following her studies at Exeter and doing a placement at the European Commission in Luxembourg, she was admitted to the Bar. She started her career in family law but increasingly dealt with clinical negligence cases, acting in a number of high-profile medical treatment and ethics cases, where she gained a highly respected reputation for her outstanding competence in handling issues relating to the end of life and withdrawal or withholding of life sustaining treatment from adults and children.

Donate to a lasting memorial to Caroline

Friends from the University of Exeter would like to raise money in Caroline’s memory and donate these funds to the Law School.

We are hoping to establish a lasting memorial to Caroline, one that will provide inspiration to current and future generations of Law students at Exeter, and we warmly invite you to join us in making a donation to the Caroline Harry Thomas Memorial Fund.

There are two ways in which we could create a fitting memorial to Caroline:

1. With a special piece of artwork in a bright, modern and welcoming space within the Law School. The University is investing over £1 million to refurbish large sections of the Amory Building, due to be opened in time for the start of the new 2012 academic year as part of its investment toward attaining a Top 10 Law School status. Students have helped to guide the Law School in the concept for the new space and will benefit from a mixture of innovative silent, quiet and group study facilities at the heart of the Amory Building. The artwork would be a permanent memorial to Caroline within this new space and provide an opportunity to celebrate her achievements - and inspire current and future generations of Law students throughout their Exeter Law experience.
2. By helping to fund overseas learning opportunities or international placements for students. A contribution to funding international learning experiences would be a wonderful tribute to Caroline, who, as some of her friends will recall, followed her time at Exeter with a placement at the European Commission in Luxembourg, from which she gained not only very valuable experience but much enjoyment and lasting friendships.

Once the Fund is established, we will work with the Law School to ensure the most appropriate tribute to Caroline and her many achievements, and the special qualities that made her a friend and inspiration to so many people.

Make your gift in memory of Caroline

Thank you,

Penny Crouch (née Curtis), Karen Petty (née Thompson) and Clive Mathias (Law 1978) and the many friends of Caroline Harry Thomas at the University of Exeter.