Father dies days after son is lost

Tributes have been paid to a former doctor and devoted father from the Black Country who died days after his severely disabled son passed away in a care home.

Relatives said Dr Arabinda Kumar Biswas was heartbroken at the 'sad departure' of 38-year-old only child Roger Rajah Biswas, who was born with cerebral palsy. Kamalaksha Biswas said today his brother was a 'wonderful doctor, brother and father', adding that his dedication to his son had been nothing short of 'extraordinary'.

Roger Biswas had lived at Himley Mill Nursing Home in School Road, Himley since his mother and Dr Biswas' wife Joy was diagnosed with cancer. She lost her battle with the disease in 2003 and Dr Biswas joined his son at Himley Mill a couple of years later after the onset of Parkinson's.

The lives of father and son will be commemorated at funeral services on Friday after they both died at the care home.

Kamalaksha Biswas, aged 70, has travelled down from Burnley to organise the funerals and is staying at the former family home in Hunter's Ride, Wordsley.

The retired scientist, a father-of-one, said: "After my sister-in-law's death in 2003 Arabinda really lived for his son. There is no science behind it but I don't think he could take the sad departure of his son who he loved enormously.

"Roger was severely disabled from birth and Arabinda and Joy devoted themselves to him. The devotion they showed was extraordinary."

Dr Biswas, who grew up with his seven brothers and one sister in India, graduated from medical college in Calcutta before moving to England where he was a consultant urologist specialising in sexually transmitted infections at Dudley's Guest Hospital. He also worked at Birmingham General Hospital, meeting future wife Joy, a nurse on the urology ward.

Funeral services will take place at Gornal Wood Crematorium. A Christian service will be held for Roger while there will be a Hindu service for Arabinda.