Robert Ehringer Krehl

A brief word from Mr. John Talbot

It is with great regret that I have to report the death of Robert Ehringer Krehl.

Robert was closely involved with the Eye Hospital for many years. He was a member of the Hospital Management Committee from 1989, and then the Board until 2008.

Throughout this time he provided steady, committed and wise support to the Board, the Chairman and Order Hospitallers. I was so grateful to him for his contribution that, when I took over the job of Chairman and Order Hospitaller, I asked him to stay on the Board for an extra year beyond his expected retirement date.

Robert was a senior member of the Johanniter and, for many years, the Secretary General of the Alliance Orders. In this role, he was an important link between the Hospital and the Johannine Orders in Europe. The Alliance has been very supportive to the Hospital and, through their influence, important in obtaining finance from the European Union, particularly in funding one of the Outreach clinics and our hospital in Gaza.

From 2003, Robert was an unstinting donor to the Hospital. He was particularly committed to our work in Gaza, but was also instrumental in underwriting the start-up costs of our clinics in Hebron and Anabta.

These have been very important in giving our patients in the West Bank easier access to our services, and are responsible for the remarkable increase in work that we have been able to undertake in recent years. When the global financial downturn began to make an impact in the last quarter of 2008, he immediately gave us £100,000. Over the years Robert donated nearly £1 million to the Hospital to the enduring benefit of the patients we serve.

His final and extraordinary donation was to the Order of St. John, enabling it to purchase new offices in Charterhouse Mews, close to St. John Square in London.

According to his wishes, the London office of the Hospital will have a permanent rent-free home with the Order. It will be a fitting memorial to a remarkable man.

The Hospital Board and all the staff extend our warm and heartfelt wishes to his widow, Monique, and his son, Oliver.

Chairman, John Talbot