Robert Taylor was always known as `Bobby'. His father John, the son of a mine owner at Woonona on the NSW South Coast, had come to Sydney to teach at Crowley's School opposite the Mater Hospital. He married Miss Mary Crowley and later became the resident headmaster of Pyrmont Public School, where Bobby, the eldest of seven children, was born and started his primary education. The family later lived for many years at `Woonona', East Crescent Street, McMahons Point. From there he went to Sydney Grammar School where he distinguished himself in modern languages, obtaining the Lithgow Prize at the senior public examination. He was a good miler.

As an undergraduate he was year representative throughout his course and was also president of the Undergraduates Association. After graduation in 1914 he was RMO at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He served with the AIF from 1915 to 1919, first on a hospital ship, then as RMO to 4 Battalion, and then in 9 Field Ambulance. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1918. He married, in the UK, Miss Violet Hill, an Australian Army nurse. They had two sons, Peter now deceased, and Robert.

After the War he practised in Frenchmans Road, Randwick and then became a consulting physician in Macquarie Street. He was appointed assistant physician to St Vincent's Hospital in 1923 and to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1924. From these years his professional life revolved around these hospitals.

He became the chief medical officer of the City Mutual Life Assurance Society where his uncle, George Crowley, was general manager from 1889 to 1933, and was elected a director in 1941 at a time of turmoil in the board. He was chairman in 1945 and 1946 and remained a director until his death. He never regarded himself as a businessman, but he gave an honest and forthright opinion. He was also a member of the advisory board of St Vincent's Hospital. His large experience in general practice and wide reading, with his commonsense approach to clinical medicine made him in demand as a consultant.

In the wards his rather rotund figure with somewhat florid complexion would be seen bustling from bed to bed. A few kindly words to each patient would be followed by a quick demonstration of the salient features of the case, then a brief discussion with his RMO and students. Little time was spent on discussing the current views of aetiology. Members of crews from overseas ships were often admitted to St Vincent's. Bobby would adapt his language to the nationality of the patient. A cheerful request to `Sitemup Joe, beginum breathum' is well remembered.

He was popular with patients, colleagues and students, who referred to his inimitable charm as he spread that best medicine - happiness. His interest in students and their welfare extended beyond medical fields. They noted that he always had a brilliant array of clinical material available. He insisted that they knew straightforward clinical signs and disease entities. He taught them by example, kindness and understanding in their approach to patients, particularly the aged. When he became an inpatient physician at St Vincent's he continued to see outpatients, mainly those with progressive neurological disease. These people appreciated his kindly interest and encouragement in the days of limited drug therapy.

A good judge of human nature, he had no time for the patient whose complaints did not appear genuine. His suggested treatment for such a person was always simple but colourful - well remembered by those with him. Pretention was foreign to him. His beloved and rather battered looking car was a familiar sight departing from St Vincent's for the city after his rounds on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Bobby told a good story and enjoyed the good things of life. He retired from St Vincent's in December 1951, but continued an active medical life and died suddenly in August 1952.