About Us

“The Reason” ...

Debbie Eaton

Debbie's story begins on 23 October 2009.....Our son, Ryan Luke Eaton died on this day aged just 17 and a half...barely two months after his granddad Bryan.....and our world stopped ....

Ryan suffered a ruptured Aortic Aneurysm, he died in our arms in Poole Hospital....
Being there with him, for him is the only silver lining that we still cling to today and I will be forever grateful to Joanne Tomlin for that.
How do we go on? .....We just do.....but it's very, very dark.....

For Debbie and I, the love and support of great friends and family has kept us alive......
So when on 12 Nov 2011, my 47th birthday, Debbie, our close friends Martin and Penny and I were sat at the breakfast table, a really happy moment!....I learnt once again how things can change in a heart beat! Debbie complained of severe pain in her belly, alarm bells were sounding in my head...not again...Ryan....

Debbie and Ryan suffer from Ehlers-Danlos Type 4 Vascular look it up, it's scary reading! Debbie collapsed unconscious, no colour, I couldn't find a pulse and her breathing was really shallow...it was happening again!

Being ex-military, training kicks in. It doesn't mean you are not scared, just the opposite. You just control it, you have to! A airway B breathing C circulation. Into the recovery position, maintain Debbie's airway and 999 our only hope. Debbie's splenic artery aneurysm had spontaneously ruptured pumping blood into her belly. I prayed they would be quick as no matter what I did there was no way I could save her.

I knew only too well that I needed an amazing surgeon and alot of help from the "Big Man" upstairs. That day my prayers were answered.....and it doesn't matter who you pray to....we all do! 8 days in ITU (Intensive Care Unit) and 3 weeks on Ward B4 and then unbelievably, Debbie came home.

Debbie had an Angel on her shoulder that day...Hey Ryan.....

After losing our son, how could I possibly repay the man that against all the odds saved the life of my wife? I know full well lesser men would have walked away..Tas didn't ..... our paths were meant to cross.

This is how Tas, Professor Tas Qureshi saw that day: "When I first met Mrs Eaton, she had suffered catastrophic internal bleeding which was a risk to her life. This was due to a ruptured blood vessel called an aneurysm. Although it was known Mrs Eaton had this aneurysm, it was deemed too risky to operate on routinely. The situation I was faced with meant that without intervention, Mrs Eaton would have died, therefore I operated to at least give her a chance of survival. Thankfully, I was able to control the bleeding and fix the aneurysm. Understandably, the recovery was protracted due to the massive blood transfusion required, but it was largely uneventful.

Obviously we are all absolutely delighted with the outcome, which is also due to the tenacity and determination of Mrs Eaton herself."
Modest for a surgeon, but that day I saw his eyes and the sweat on his brow, Mr Tas Qureshi knew he had earned his pay that day. More than that, my total admiration, respect and undying thanks. Robert Eaton

Vascular EDS – The Zebra in The Room.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EDS

Annabelle Challenge.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

Annabelle's Challenge is the leading charity for Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Vascular EDS) in the UK.

A Visionary ...

Robert Braithwaite CBE

Robert Braithwaite CBE was the founder of the global brand we all know as Sunseeker International Ltd…But…What many don’t know about Robert was how amazing he was as a human being and how he supported his “Sunseeker Family” and Our Community.

In 2013 Robert was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer. He chose the best to look after him and that was Prof. Tahseen Qureshi. Following his life saving treatment Robert learned of Prof. Qureshi’s efforts to bring Robotic Surgery to Poole. He really got it! Robert saw the vision and in October of 2015 he bought the people of Poole a da Vinci Xi Robot, placed under the lead of Prof. Qureshi.

That was not the end of the story and on the 6th January 2017 on behalf of Robert Braithwaite CBE on the Sunseeker International Stand at the London Boat Show, RB Project Q was launched. This is the next phase of the RB Project Q journey with Professor Tas Qureshi as Medical Lead/Director and myself Managing Director.

Sadly, Robert lost his life in March 2019. He died of Vascular Dementia not cancer. In 2017 I made Robert a promise, I am determined to honour that promise to deliver a “State of the Art” teaching, training, research and development centre. RB Project Q will become a reality.

Prof. Q

Professor Tahseen (Tas) Qureshi

Professor Tahseen Qureshi, MBBS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Gen Surg), is an esteemed Consultant General Surgeon affiliated with Poole Hospital, renowned for his expertise in laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery on both national and international levels.

Professor Qureshi completed his undergraduate training at King's College Hospital in London where he gained valuable experience during his time as a House Physician and House Surgeon. He also dedicated a year to their A&E department. Following his Basic Surgical Training in West Sussex, he pursued Higher Surgical Training in the Wessex region. To refine his surgical abilities, he completed a Laparoscopic Fellowship in Portsmouth under the mentorship of Professor Parvaiz.

With his wealth of experience, Professor Qureshi was appointed as a Consultant Laparoscopic Surgeon at Poole NHS Foundation Trust, where he spearheaded the introduction of cutting-edge laparoscopic techniques for bowel cancer surgery. Professor Qureshi has since served as the Lead Laparoscopic Surgeon and Enhanced Recovery Lead and as the Lead General Surgeon for the Dorset Endometriosis Centre.

In 2011, Professor Qureshi's exceptional expertise led the Department of Health to select him as a National Trainer in Laparoscopic Surgery (LAPCO). This role involves instructing and evaluating the safety and competence of Consultant Surgeons in Laparoscopic and Robotic surgical procedures throughout the United Kingdom.

Professor Qureshi has joined a faculty that trains Consultant Surgeons from various countries and offers an international Laparoscopic Fellowship program based in Poole.

Thanks to the visionary support of Robert Braithwaite CBE, Founder of Sunseeker International Ltd, Poole has emerged as a pioneering hub of 21st Century Medicine, both nationally and internationally. Robert's personal donation of £3.4 million has paid for the acquisition of the da Vinci Robot Xi, introducing robotic surgery to Poole.

While Professor Qureshi's bio may suggest that all necessary steps are being taken within the NHS framework, the reality is that the existing capabilities and delivery structures are limited.
Royal College of Surgeons Report 2022. “Less than 30% of surgical trainees are gaining access to the required literacy and skill to deliver robotic surgery in their future consultant practice”.

As Medical Lead/Director of RB Project Q we hope to help in addressing this issue of National importance.

And Me! ...

Rob Eaton aka “Titch”

This is me…. A retired Royal Marine, I was in Her Majesty’s Service for 22 years and I possess the mind-set that service does not end when the uniform comes off. I am currently running “Robs Filling Station” (aka RFS), a tent in a carpark restaurant which was set up to help feed the Homeless, Veterans and a Young at Heart club during lockdown. RFS has morphed and grown into a fantastic restaurant which will take pride of place on the ground floor of the RB Project Q facility.

Concurrently, I have also been driving forward the vision that is RB Project Q. We gained planning permission as of 10 March 2023 and this facility includes a veterans support element that we have named “The Stronghold”.

I joined the Royal Marines in 1982. It was the beginning of a incredible career that took me all around the globe.

I met the founder of Sunseeker International Ltd, Robert Braithwaite CBE, in 1990. I borrowed a Sunseeker Hawk 27 Powerboat weighing over 4 tonnes and worth a small fortune from him. I had the crazy idea that I, along with 13 other Royal Marines and 14 Sunseeker Employees, should push the boat nearly 40 miles from West Quay Road in Poole to the TVS Studios in Southampton for the ITV Telethon '90. We succeeded and Robert very generously doubled the money we raised that day. That was the start of Robert and my friendship.

I finally retired from the Royal Marines in 2004. Throughout my career I was fortunate to develop a substantial skill set that has been transferred to great effect into civilian life. On retiring from the Royal Marines in 2004 I set up "Sign it!" supporting and mentoring profoundly deaf and disabled young people in all aspects of their daily lives. Robert was a great supporter of my "Sign It!" venture.

In 2006, with the help of the Robert we established the provision of “Access for All” providing disability access on the Sunseeker Stand at the Southampton and London Boat Shows.

On 12 November 2011, I met and forged what has become a close and enduring friendship with Professor Tasheen (Tas) Qureshi when he saved Debbie's life. I have worked closely with Prof Qureshi since 2011 and our friendship has led to the concept that is RB Project Q.

At the London Boat Show In 2017, I made Robert a promise to make the rest of RB Project Q's vision a reality with his help and his financial backing.

Unfortunately, in 2019 Robert Braithwaite CBE, sadly passed away. He was our investor, my mentor and most importantly, he was my friend. He made such a big impact on my life and he will be forever remembered and sorely missed.

I am determined to honour his legacy.

If you like our story, please tell your friends and support us if you can.

Many Thanks

Rob

“The Stronghold” Lead

Stephenie Stockley

Stephenie is the Veterans Lead for RB Project Q, she is a Royal Marines Charity Support worker and a SSAFA Caseworker. Stephenie brings a decade of expertise in administrative and support roles within various sectors. Her volunteering journey with Veterans commenced in 2013 where she delved into the intricacies of RMA Charity support, demonstrating exceptional organisational skills and a strong commitment to assisting individuals in need.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Stephenie has dedicated a significant part of her life to volunteering, notably serving as Divisional Secretary at SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Air Force Families Association) for an impactful five year period. Her tenure at SSAFA allowed her to actively contribute to the welfare and support of military personnel and their families, displaying unwavering dedication to the cause. Most recently Stephenie brought her expertise and compassionate approach to the Poole Probation Office, where she spent five fulfilling years working with those requiring specialised assistance and support. Her firsthand experience in this to navigate the complexities of aiding veterans with the care and guidance they needed, fostering a deep understanding of their unique challenges and requirements.

Stephenie’s motivation to volunteer stems from a deeply personal place - Her father’s own battle with PTSD. Witnessing firsthand the impact of this condition ignited her passion for supporting individuals facing similar challenges, driving her to make a meaningful difference in their lives. With a profound understanding of administrative support, a wealth of experience in the aiding veterans, and a heartfelt commitment to giving back to the community, Stephenie continues to be a driving force in supporting and advocating for those in need, leaving an indelible mark through her dedication and compassion.

I’ll add. I have first hand experience of working with Steph in the delivery of the support and the outcome is one I am immensely proud of. Team Work Makes The Dream Work

The Former Councillor

Janet Walton

Janet Walton brings extensive political experience to our management team as a former councillor, former Chair of the Shadow Executive Committee for the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Leader of Poole Council and Leader of the Conservative Group on Poole Council.

Janet was a Conservative councillor from 2007 who represented the Oakdale ward and was cabinet portfolio holder for children services.

In 2017 as Poole Council Leader Janet organised the Celebrating Poole Event where she first met Professor Tahseen Qureshi (Tas), speaker on Medical Innovation in the field of Robotic Surgery. The event was to showcase excellence and innovation happening in Poole.

This event was the point in time when Janet “joined the team” on our journey to develop the concept of the Enterprise and Innovation Centre. Our mutual aim to advance Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery Locally, Nationally and Internationally and the associated economic enhancement and benefits that brings to our community.

The Team