Ollie passed away peacefully at home on the 21st of July 2026 surrounded by his loving family, aged 57.
Ollie was the devoted husband of Fiona, and immensely proud father to Sam, Charlie, Ben, and Lily.
He was also a much-loved son, brother, uncle, and a cherished member of his local community.
Known to all for his wonderful wit, humour, and kindness, Ollie brought warmth and laughter (and a lot of cake) to everyone who knew him. He will be profoundly missed by his family, friends and colleagues and will also be remembered with great affection by the many families whose lives he touched through his dedicated work caring for premature babies.
Funeral service to take place at Chester Crematorium on Friday 14th August 2026 at 10.40am.
Traditional funeral black not required – as this will be a celebration of Ollie’s life, colour would be most welcome.
Here are the livestream details
His kindness, English wit and genuine interest in the people he engaged with left my life richer. Fiona, I cannot even begin to know your and the kids’ pain. Please know the value he added and left all those he knew with. One takes that with you. Wishing you comfort in the love he shared.
Heartfelt condolences to Fiona and the children at this incredibly difficult time.
The loss is unimaginable.
You are a beautiful family through and through and we are thinking of you all at this difficult time.
Sending much love.
Zillah, Reya and Sienna Xx
Shocked and saddened to read this.
Sending sincerest condolences to you, Fiona and to your lovely family xxx
So very sorry to hear the news. Sending my love and prayers to you all
So sad to hear of Oliver’s passing. He was such immense help when my twins were 7 weeks premature in APH. Sending our condolences to all of Oliver’s family. X
Our daughter Penny was cared for by Oliver as her neonatologist, and we will always be grateful for the way he guided us through those early, frightening days. He was the one who recognised her condition and set her on the path she’s on now. Beyond being an exceptional doctor, he was a genuinely good man. We were lucky enough to complete the Three Peaks with him, and his encouragement and kindness stayed with us long after. We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing, and we are holding his family in our thoughts.
My wishes are with you all dr rackman was a incredible man who helped the hearts of many including mine and my sons he saved my sons life 2014 without a shadow of doubt hes going to be missed so much by so many rest easy dr rackman biggest loves and cuddles to his wife and children
Will be forever grateful that you saved all four of my children Oliver. Sleep peacefully x
Thank you for everything you did for me and my family during our time in Arrowe park nicu we will always be grateful to you rest in peace
Thank you so much for all your work and dedication to prem & sick babies dr rackham may you rest in peace. Thinking of your wife & children. Thank you for the gift of my boy in 2016, without you my life could be so so different.
It was a privilege to know you, work alongside you and to learn so much from you. You were a passionate champion for patient safety, digital innovation, and families…never afraid to challenge convention in the pursuit of better care. As you often reminded us, quoting Voltaire, ‘The best is the enemy of the good.’ Yet, in many ways, you believed that being content with “good enough” should never stop us striving for better. Your wisdom, conviction, and legacy will continue to inspire me. You will be greatly missed. Rest in peace…
Dear Fiona and Family
I am so sorry for your loss of an amazing human that was Oliver. I met Oliver on the neonatal unit at Arrowe Park and he made those dark days more bearable and we will forever be grateful to him for not only being there for our baby boy Sebastian (who turns 11 on wednesday!) but also for us as a family.
Sending love and strength to you all at this time.
The Stievenard Family (Sophie, Alex and Sebastian – aka blue eyes as Oliver called him)
Arrowe Park Neonatal residents Aug 2015
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Oliver in Wirral, supporting the NICU with media relations and marketing. I have never worked with someone so inspiring, which led me to nominating him for The One Show awards alongside some grateful parents whose baby he had saved. He was so dedicated to making a difference and the impact he had on the families he supported will last forever. Working with him is what inspired me to work for Claire House and he was a great support when I told him I had applied for a job there. That was less than three months ago. He wrote me a lovely recommendation and was genuinely pleased when I got the job. I will always remember him as intelligent, kind, good company and full of integrity. So sorry for your loss – I hope that you find strength in the amazing legacy that he leaves behind. Sending you all lots of love at this difficult time. X
It is with a sad heart to hear about Oliver’s passing. I have worked with him throughout his time at Arrowe Park and enjoyed many cakes, but most of all I always appreciated working with a colleague who gave everything to the family’s he looked after. My thought go to his family x
I was absolutely heartbroken hearing of Oliver’s passing I know you know what a wonderful man he was but I want to reiterate what he did for other peoples families my daughter was born in 2015 at 22+6 weeks there was very Little hope for her Oliver was our shining light who never gave up on her she is now a beautiful 11year old starting high school in September and our family owe our beautiful miracle to Oliver and his amazing knowledge and drive to do everything he could to help her and thankyou to your family for supporting him to help others my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult and devastating time xx
Oliver was such an amazing help to our family when my son Ethan was in Arrowe Park after his birth. He talked to us kindly amd with compassion, and was seemingly ever present when we went to visit, regardless of the time of day or night. We were so sad to hear of his passing, but will celebrate his life and amazing care. Thank you Oliver Rackham, you will be remembered fondly.
I and sonsad to here the news about Dr Rackham. I will will forever be in debt to him, he was one of if not the main reason my Daughter Evie and son Aidan are here now. Thank you so much Dr Rackham, my thoughts go out to your friends and family and they all will be so proud of you.
To the most beautiful family, my heart aches for the loss of a husband and father. I’m trusting that this pain and grief will be surrounded by a growing peace and will be showered by beautiful and treasured memories. Sending you all love and prayers xxx
My Daughter Honor was born at 31 weeks in 2013, Dr Rackham helped Honor and us in so many ways, He seemed a lovely man, Kind and caring in every way.. We are thinking of him and all of his family at this sad time. Sending so much love xxxx
Ollie was a great University friend – we met at Cambridge and I shared a house in Hackney with Ollie and Fiona and other friends when we trained at St Bartholomew’s. Fun times were had – especially in France. Ollie was a fantastic, witty, generous man who also happened to be a brilliant doctor. A life so very well lived – but tragically, far too short. He will be greatly missed by all. Much Love to Fiona and all the family Xx
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Oliver’s untimely death, and send sincere condolences to Fiona and family. We were colleagues on the children’s and neonatal units at Arrowe Park for many years. He was a fine clinician and a loyal and supportive colleague, and he was loved by the families he cared for. Oliver’s understated and quiet demeanour hid a fierce commitment to developing and maintaining high standards of care. One of his more quirky innovations was to introduce a slot at the weekly unit meeting for jokes or odd newspaper articles. My favourites were an article claiming that pigeons cooed in regional accents, and one stating that spiders wove more squiggly webs when fed caffeine (or was it cannabis?). To borrow his catchphrase, I was gunna say ‘Farewell Oliver, you will be greatly missed’.
Dear Fiona and family, the Cowdy family are all so sorry for your loss. Our memories of Ollie are forever linked to many happy holidays. One of my personal favourites was watching you and Ollie laughing uncontrollably as you played with some air drumsticks. Sending you all our love.
Dear Fiona and family, i am so sorry for your loss. I had the privilege or working with Oliver at APH. He was always so wise and sharp minded in his observations. He was committed to good patient care, and teaching and developing juniors. He taught me so much.
He really cared. – that was the main thing. It wasn’t just a job for him – he really cared
And along with that he was a friend. He had such a dry humour and a kind heart.. He was genuinely one of the good ones and he will be so missed, but not forgotten
I have been so sad to hear of this news and have been thinking all the time about Oliver in the past weeks. I knew Oliver as a fellow paediatrician in Wirral and his sharp intelligence and commitment to continuous improvement of patient care and our health care records were a hugely inspiring example to me.
Oliver supported me personally through an extremely difficult time with great compassion and friendliness.
Whenever I came to ask Oliver for a heart scan on a patient he’d laconically say as I came through his door “it’s not the heart” and then do the scan straight away dropping whatever else he was doing. I will always remember him as a great colleague.
My sincere condolences to all his family
and friends
Dear Fiona and Family,
I am deeply sorry for your loss.
Dr Rackham/Oliver helped and guided me a lot during my paediatric training. He was kind, witty, genuine and above all else wanted the best care for his patients and their families.
He was a great clinical leader, who taught me so much, feedback was always offered kindly with a smile and a great sense of humour. He created a friendly, high achieving and positive neonatal and paediatric department at Arrowe Park, which is why so many of the Mersey paediatric trainee’s myself included were driven to become Consultants at Arrowe.
Rest in peace Dr Rackham gone too soon but not to be forgotten, a privilege to have worked with you.
Dr Rackham gave great care to our daughter Harriet when she was born 8 weeks prematurely at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. He was so lovely and we are terribly sorry to hear the sad news of his passing. Sending thoughts and condolences to his family and friends. He touched so many lives and saved so many tiny babies.
I first met Ollie on day one of medical training at St Catharines College Cambridge. There were only 6 medics in our college in that year and Ollie and I hit it off immediately. He was so kind, genuine and such good fun! He was also very modest as he was brilliant. We both studied in London for our clinical years and then spent time together in New Zealand where we both worked after our house jobs. Such good times. Ollie was the instigator of inviting the entire England cricket team to the doctor’s beach house in Whanganui! He will be so so missed but what is in no doubt he will have had such a positive influence on every life he has touched.
Profoundly knowledgeable man with a strong and clear sense of purpose, tactful, nuanced, fair, respectful. I found interacting with Oliver intellectually highly rewarding. A legend! I will miss him very much. My thoughts are with his family.
Just like his stepfather and grandfather (my second cousin once removed), Ollie was a beloved and caring physician. Although a distant relative, I knew him enough to know him to be a devoted father, husband, son, brother and uncle. A very kind man who gave this world so much and leaves it much too early. Rest in peace, dear Ollie.
A dear friend who has left the party far too early, having shared so many great times, you leave us with special memories that we will look to share some more. Our thoughts are with you all – God bless you Oli x
I was so very shocked and saddened to hear of Oliver’s passing. He was a truly lovely man who had his patients at the forefront of everything he did. He was forward thinking and not afraid to try out suggestions from colleagues at our stand up solutions where you didn’t bring a problem, but brought a solution to a problem. My thoughts and prayers go out to all his family and friends, of whom there are many. Rest in peace Oliver.
Dear Fiona and family, I am so saddened and feel deeply sad for the family’s loss. I had the privilege of working with Oliver and knowing him as person and professional . It seems unrealistic that he is not among us anymore. He was a man with an innovative mind ,hard working ethics and at the same time caring for the babies and families.
He will be missed both as a neonatologist and as a wonderful human being. Rest in peace Oliver.
I taught on a course with Oliver and he was just wonderful! Really took time with the candidates making them feel comfortable, shared his knowledge and experience with us all and was clearly very proud of his family!
What sad news I was devastated to hear of Ollie’s passing. He was a wonderful colleague. I have taught with Ollie over the years and he was a wonderful teacher and an inspiration to his students and colleagues. His warmth and compassion always shone through. I know I will really miss his warmth and humour and can’t begin to imagine what you are all going through. I send only love and best wishes and fond memories. Ali
I met Oliver through his volunteering for the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, in particular whilst he shared his work, dedication and vision as he contributed to the NEWTT2 project, the early warning score framework for newborns. Without Oliver’s inspiration the project would not have achieved so highly I am sure.
I am stunned by your loss . Please accept my sincere condolences.
The world of neonatal medicine has lost an amazing man. Oliver always had a smile, an inquisitive mind and made obstacles achievable.
I am humbled by these messages about your work as a doctor. Obviously you were always cleverer, faster, funnier etc than me, but these words from the families whose lives you touched are so eye-opening and beautiful.
It is a pleasure to find out what you were like at work, and get a glimpse into that part of your life.
Such an absolute gentleman, who contributed so much to the neonatal world, life support training, and everyone he met along the way. Oliver will be greatly missed. Sending condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in peace, Oliver.
Reading these messages has brought a tear to my eye. What can I say? I first met Oliver as a junior doctor and was in awe of his abundance of knowledge. He was a fierce advocate for his patients and their families, along with his dedication to care improvement. I was mortified when as a registrar I had to call him in the middle of the night to obtain IV access in a baby; he never made me feel small or stupid, and we were able to share some humourous moments. I last saw him at a conference in mid May and have been somewhat haunted by it since; I taken some comfort that we were able to have a quick chat, and his dry humour when I recounted tales of my two boys and the chaos of returning to work after maternity leave will not be forgotten. My condolences to the Rackham family and all affected by his loss.
He was a wonderful tennis player I remember him playing matches at the old Hoole Lawn tennis club before we moved to the new site very nice person RIP Oliver Hoole LTC will miss you John
I played tennis with Ollie over many years. He was a joy to play with. He was always a deep thinker and was someone who always looked to get the best out of my game by offering me suggestions and insights into the oppositions tactics and where their weak points were in their game. He never got angry or annoyed when things didn’t go to plan. He was very laid back and we often had a laugh or two, but had a steel/focus about him that made you want to play well when you were with him. I knew he was a doctor but I didn’t realise how much he has impacted so many lives in such a positive way. He was very modest and never spoke of his incredible work. I feel blessed that I knew him and I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
What a devastating loss – Oliver was a wonderful friend and colleague, and for a time my boss at Arrowe Park. He was such a brilliant clinician – and a very clever guy with a real eye for detail. He had a razor sharp sense of humour.
We will really miss you mate
Ian x
Very shocked to hear this news: the world in general, paediatrics and Oliver’s will be sadder without Oliver’s wit, talent and care. A dedicated doctor, gone too soon. Many condolences to the family and sympathies to all who will miss him.
I first met Oliver on my very first day as a doctor in Chester, when he was my registrar. Our paths crossed many times over the years, during my training and later as a consultant. I always enjoyed our ‘spirited’ discussions. Oliver encouraged people to think for themselves, to have an opinion, and then to support it with evidence, ideally good science. He challenged and inspired in equal measure.
He had a wonderful sense of humour, a particular appreciation for a well-written care improvement form, and a firmly held belief in the power of cake. He made a lasting impression on countless colleagues and trainees, not only through his knowledge and leadership, but through the kindness, wisdom and humanity he brought to his work every day.
The medical world has lost a remarkable doctor, and I have lost someone I greatly respected and was always pleased to meet along the way.
My heartfelt condolences go to Fiona and all of Oliver’s family.
It was with shock, devastation and the deepest sadness that I received the news of Oliver’s death. My sincerest condolences to Fiona and the children at this unimaginably difficult time
Oliver – these heartfelt reflections truly sum up you as the wonderful colleague and friend I had the pleasure of working with at Arrowe Park. Your diagnostic brilliance as an outstanding clinician, dry but ever present sense of humour, and continuous drive for improvement. These were why we were so keen to encourage you to join us as a consultant on our neonatal journey. I was so delighted when you said yes!
Your passion, dedication and persistence shone through and impacted so many junior and senior, medical and nursing colleagues. You brought expertise and leadership with your other ‘special’ interests in cardiology and rheumatology, always supporting colleagues with their patients.
However your true love was always the babies and their families on our neonatal unit. Genuinely ahead of your time, you introduced innovative approaches to parent engagement, pioneering (and pushing us all)inclusion of parents in ward round discussion, well before Family Integrated Care became the bedrock of neonatal care. Other ‘firsts’ included Stand Up Solutions (truly empowering all staff to solve problems), Board Handover Rounds (always refining this vital function). It was your care and compassion for parents at their most difficult time, that put our unit at the forefront of parent support, including a first ever father support group. All of these are now embedded and taken for granted as gold standard, but you brought them to our babies and families first.
It is in such sad circumstances that we reflect how privileged we were to work with you in our team. You joined us on that neonatal journey, as a supportive and dedicated colleague, opening our eyes to different ways of working.
For that I am forever grateful
We are so very sorry not to be able to attend Ollie’s celebration of life ceremony. Sending you love and strength and hope the memories shared here and on the day fill your hearts and ease some of the pain of Ollie’s untimely loss. We unfortunately didn’t get to spend much time in Ollie’s company but Ted and Joe always spoke warmly of him and have enjoyed countless, happy times in the company of your wonderful family. Much love to you all.
I had the great privilege to work with Oliver over many years on the National Neonatal Audit Programme. Oliver so freely gave his time and expertise to this work, advocating passionately on behalf of families, and always asking the questions that no-one else was brave enough to ask. I hope that reading these messages about Oliver’s positive impact on the world brings some comfort to family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.
Thank you Oliver
I first met Dr Rackham in 2014 when I was a newly qualified rotational pharmacist working on the neonatal unit at Arrowe Park. He was so inspiring, kind and gentle. He taught he so much which I have tried to take with me along my professional journey. I have been saddened by the news of his death and send my heartfelt condolences to his family.
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Oliver’s death. His contributions to NNAP and BAPM data groups were insightful and he was clearly passionate about improving neonatal care across the whole of the UK.
My thoughts go out to family, friends, and colleagues.
I cannot believe that Oliver has passed. We worked closely at Arrowe Park to make the hospital paperless. It was a hard fought battle to convince all the naysayers. Oliver was the intellectual force behind it all. He knew every button and and function of the new American system. I often wondered if he spent weeks pressing buttons to discover all that he knew.He came up with solutions and he kept us all on our toes. All of us who were involved will miss him so much. And that dry wit…..
Thank you for looking after me last year when I was too little to be looked after by my mum and dad. You made my mummy and daddy feel very involved in caring for me, you shared your knowledge, and even made them laugh while being inside of the neonatal bubble. We are eternally grateful for all you’ve done and the legacy you have left behind. Condolences to the Rackham family, we are thinking of you.
Dear Fiona,
I knew Ollie from his work in supporting and promoting neonatal research and through the British Association of Perinatal Medicine. His dedication to improving care of babies and their families was exemplary and his friendly personality and wit made it a pleasure to work with him.
Sending you and your family, my sincerest condolences.
Shalini
It is difficult to find the right words to honour someone whose influence reached so many lives, even beyond those who worked closely alongside him. Whilst I had the privilege of knowing him as a colleague, I will always be deeply grateful for the care, compassion, and expertise he showed as a neonatologist when my granddaughter, Harriet, was born at 31+6 weeks. She weighed 2lb 12oz and was on the neonatal unit.
During what was an anxious and uncertain time for our family, his calm presence and dedication brought reassurance and hope. The skill and commitment he demonstrated were matched by a kindness that families never forget. For many parents and grandparents, he was not only an outstanding doctor but also a source of comfort when it was needed most.
The impact of his care continues to live on in those children and in the grateful hearts of their families.
Please accept my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all those who worked closely with him. He will be remembered with great gratitude, respect, and affection. Harriet’s journey will always be part of the legacy he leaves behind, and for that, our family will remain forever thankful.
I worked closely with Oliver for a short period of time as a research midwife. He was as commited to academia as he was to his clinical work, and had a deep desire to improve care, create new evidence and share his knowledge with others. He was humble, and always trying to push others to develop and reach their potential. He will be deeply and sadly missed.
I have known Oliver through his work at the BAPM and the NNAP for many years. He was an incredibly thoughtful and considerate man, a true ‘gentle’man. His motivation was always to deliver the best quality of care for patients and his solutions were wholly grounded in principles that had parents’ and babies’ best interests at the heart. He was funny and very kind and I wish I had known him better.
So very sorry to hear of the loss of Dr Rackham, thank you for all you did for the babies and parents in your care. We will be forever grateful. Sincere condolences to his family.
Dr Oliver. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me since I was born back in June 2024. My mummy, daddy and I are so grateful for your support at knowledge as I’ve grown with my brain issues, prematurity and mobility problems. Just remembering me and supporting me and my mummy and daddy means so much you will be truly missed. Lots of love always. Erin.
Heartfelt condolences to Fiona and family. I had the privilege or working with Oliver for many years and am so very sorry to hear about his sad passing. I loved coming to Arrowe Park for rheumatology outreach clinics with him. He was such a wonderful doctor and a fabulous person. He was a joy to spend time with. He will be sadly missed but know that he has inspired and helped so many.
I had the honour of working with Oliver on the Neonatal Unit in Glan Clwyd Hospital. He was an exceptional Neonatologist, kind and supportive to both families and staff. Always working towards improving treatments and care. He’s been taken from us far too soon. Sending my condolences and deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues.
I still can’t quite believe it. These things always seems to happen to the most golden of people. What a wonderful man who dedicated his life to the poorliest of babies. I am so lucky to have had Oliver as my babies consultant. He dedicated his life to saving babies and I will forever be grateful for that. I remember in my darkest moment, he introduced himself and told me about the Neomates group and let me know that I wasn’t alone. What a wonderful man and my deepest condolences to his family & nearest and dearest. Rest in peace Oliver, you made a big difference in this world, Amy & Evie x
So sad to hear the news. I worked with Ollie through BAPM projects, neonatal education and resuscitation training. His dedication and enthusiasm for neonatology always apparent, as well as his sense of humour.
Sending my condolences to his family, colleagues and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Thank you for being one of the drs who looked after Ava, when she and her twin brother Osian(who sadly passed) was born at 30+1 weeks. Thank you for making us laugh and keeping us involved in the care you provided. Thank you for the support mentally after loosing a child. I’ll never forget the time where you sat down with me to ask how I am really doing. So thoughtful, supportive, and kind. You will be missed at YCG
Just we found out the heartbreaking news that Tristan’s wonderful JIA doctor has passed away.
He has been such a huge part of our lives for the past 3 years, ever since Tristan was diagnosed with JIA. He has been there throughout so much of Tristan’s journey and has always been so kind, caring and amazing with him.
He wasn’t just an amazing doctor — he was someone who genuinely cared about Tristan. I will always be so grateful for everything he did for us and for the reassurance and kindness he gave us over the years.
It’s hard to put into words how sad we are to hear that he is no longer here. He will be incredibly missed, but he will always be remembered as a very special part of Tristan’s journey.
Thank you for everything you did for our little boy. We will never forget you.
Rest in peace.
We are so terribly sorry to hear this very sad news. Dr Oliver Rackham was involved in my son Hugo’s care at Ysbytu Glan Clwyd in September last year. I’ll always remember his kind, gentle and compassionate nature towards my little boy and us parents during such an unsettling time. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. We will be forever grateful to you. May you rest in eternal peace.
My heart goes out to Fiona and all of Oliver’s family at this incredibly sad time.
Oliver – I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have worked alongside you as your secretary for 13 years at Arrowe Park Hospital, and even luckier that our friendship continued long after our working days together had ended.
Thank you for all the laughter, kindness and encouragement over the years. Thank you for including me in your “Stand Up Solutions” meetings on the Neonatal Unit and for always making the admin staff feel valued, respected and supported.
Thank you for all the challenges you set me, especially the “detective work” that earned me the nickname Hercule Poirot!
Thank you, too, for the countless Post-it notes, the cake and, of course, the Bic pens.
Thank you for your friendship, your support and the difference you made to so many babies and their families.
Your mantra – “We should always do our best.” is something that will stay with me forever. You certainly lived by those words, Oliver, you always gave your very best.
It has been a privilege to know you. Rest in peace, my friend x
You were the light in our storm time and time not just during my daughters battles in scbu but afterwards you started Neomates to support us afterwards you made us a family you started a movement that grew from arrow park to wales to country wide we won awards we spoke at medical conferences and set up charities all to improve the neonatal department and the support the parents receive! You leave a legacy of children whose lives you saved of families you built and of hearts you held together all with incredible empathy gentleness Witt humour and kindness! The world has lost a true legend rest in paradise Oliver! #aintnomatelikeaneomate
The Beaman family thanks you for saving little miss bows
Annie Beaman!
I was fortunate to work with Oliver at Glan Clwyd Hospital. I would like to send my sincerest condolences to Oliver’s family and friends. The team are all so sad about his passing.
Oliver was an integral part of the neonatal unit team. He was always looking for ways to implement quality improvement and encouraging staff to take part, all for the babies and their families. When I think of Oliver, I think of the calm presence he brought in his ability to communicate clearly, with such compassion and genuine care for people. This always made a difference in the most simple, and the most challenging of situations. Oliver always took the opportunity to acknowledge good practice and make time to give positive feedback to staff. His support really encouraged me to develop in my role, and I will always be thankful of the confidence this gave me. Oliver was a very intelligent and skilled consultant, but I most admired his ability to make the biggest impact with the smallest gestures of kindness, whether that was taking the time to sit and talk with a family or by commending staff achievements for all to hear.
Oliver also made a huge difference to my own family, as my son’s consultant when he was admitted to the neonatal unit. My family will forever be thankful for Oliver’s expertise during this time. My son is now 5, but my husband and I will always remember how Oliver made the days following his birth feel calm and controlled, even when things were scary and uncertain.
Oliver’s dedication to his work during his time in Glan Clwyd has made lasting positive change that will go on to benefit many more babies and families in North Wales, and beyond. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by our team. Thank you Oliver.
Marianne & family x
From our time in training at Alder Hey through many years of working together at Arrowe Park and Glan Clwyd I will always cherish the time we shared working together. Your kindness and compassion were ever present, you were an inspirational doctor, colleague and friend. I will miss you as will all who knew you. Sending my love and best wishes to your family and all whose lives you touched
I knew Oliver as an appraiser first and foremost, with a skill for devising PDPs that would challenge and develop his appraisees, and excellent appraisal summaries. A brilliant doctor, Oliver was always kind, encouraging to newer appraisers and appraisees, and shared knowledge and tips during workshops we held.
A lovely gentleman who will be missed by everyone he came into contact with. My sincere condolences to his loved ones.
I was so very sorry to hear of the loss of Oliver. I had the pleasure of working alongside him at APH; we didn’t always see eye to eye but managed to find a regular common ground. I loved our debates and the fact that he was always ready to listen to a different opinion, I can hear him now “ yes Fiona I know breastfeeding is best” .
He will be missed by many . Condolences to his family
So very sad to hear this news. Oliver was absolutely lovely to us when our daughter Flora (Little Floss) was born and was extremely poorly following her birth. Words could never be enough to express just how grateful we were for all the support and reassurance he provided us with and the care he extended to not only Flora, but the rest of us during Covid when it was extremely challenging not only having a baby, but having such a poorly one. Sending best wishes to the family.
I knew Oliver both as a consultant in the adult intensive care, where we shared many on call evenings in Glan Clwyd’s ‘unique’ overnight accommodation, but also as medical director of our hospital. In both those jobs I regularly saw that Oliver was an exceptionally dedicated and hardworking colleague who will be hugely missed by all of us, but especially by everyone in the neonatal team at YGC.
There are many children and young adults across north Wales and everywhere he worked alive today because of his dedication alongside the teams he worked with.
I am so sorry for your loss as a family.
Nos da Oliver, cysgwch yn iawn.
From 5-a-side and a pint on a Friday evening to coaxing runners across the fields and through the woods of Barrow on a Saturday morning, organising Barrow Balls, international rugby trips and 6 Nations Sweepstakes, building bonfires and struggling manfully with giant Christmas trees, Ollie has been at the heart of our village community from the day he arrived. It is unimaginable that he is no longer with us. He was always brilliant company – the brightest, funniest and sometimes (especially when discussing the finer points of rugby) the most opinionated member of our group. He had the gift of being able to laugh at himself and was always hungry for knowledge. Reading the comments here it shines through that in his professional life he was also a compassionate, understated hero to so many families.
Thank you Ollie for all that made you a brilliant human being, wherever Chumpers gather and Buzzards soar you will always be remembered. Sending our love and deepest condolences to Fiona and the Rackham family xx
We were so saddened to hear of Dr Rackham’s passing. It doesn’t seem real. We always have been and will be eternally grateful for the care you gave to Lucy and the support you gave to us back in 2014. Caroline & Paul & Lucy Kelly
It was a shock to hear of the sad passing of Oliver, my condolences to Fiona and the whole family. Oliver was a consultant colleague who was supportive at a secondment role I had at Arrowe park hospital many years ago. As a neonatal colleague he contributed a lot of ideas at the Cheshire & Mersey neonatal network meetings. May his soul rest in peace.
Oliver was an exceptional person.
I knew Oliver briefly as a paediatric trainee but subsequently I was fortunate enough to work with him much more closely in my role as clinical director for paediatrics and neonates at Glan Clwyd Hospital. Despite technically being his boss, he taught me so much over the years. Oliver was always striving to make the department do better and never being afraid to ask the difficult questions.
Bright, witty and articulate, Oliver was always full of ideas and absolutely dedicated to the babies, children and families of North Wales.
Amongst the many ventures that he embarked upon, our departmental QSNAP programme that was established and ran by Oliver embeds everything about his ethos – Quality and Safety in Neonates And Paediatrics, and will continue as an important part of his legacy.
The impact Oliver had reached across hospitals, networks and beyond. Oliver supported countless colleagues and the lives he has saved and touched through his work and dedication are many.
Leaving an incredible legacy, Oliver will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. His influence will live on through the ideas he championed and the improvements he made to the care of babies, children and families.
The service today was a perfect tribute, the strength of the family along with the love and compassion was prominent throughout. As was said, and is completely true, whilst he has left this world too soon, it is now a better place than he found it because of him. Fiona, Sam, Charlie, Ben and Lily, my heart goes out to you all. Your courage and strength as a family are inspiring. Take care of each other and know that so many people are thinking of you xx
Amazing to read all of these messages and see the impact Ollie had outside of the village of Barrow, where I knew him.
Every Christmas I would return to Great Barrow and meet Ollie with his signature hot apple cider, selection of cakes and sitting on the shoulders of an inflatable Father Christmas.
His interest in the people and world around him meant that he was a never ending source of warmth and interesting conversation.
My deepest condolences to his family. He was a wonderful man.
Fiona, Charlie,Sam, Ben and Lilly your love for Ollie shone through yesterday and your bravery sharing with us all yesterday was second to none.
Ollie was an inspiration man who has had such a positive influence on so many. We didn’t cross paths professionally but know how much he did especially reading all these tributes.
Meeting him on that first Barrow Buzzards run in 2020 was a catalyst for getting involved and meeting people in our village. Always friendly and supportive with his dry sense of humour he encouraged me to keep turning up. The bag with the tea and coffee, the sign in sheet and keeping track of all new buzzards became the ritual and important to us all. Ollie we loved you and we will soar each week in your memory.
The Harty Family have been entrusted with the arrangements for Ollie, all enquiries to:
Hartys of Chester Family Funeral Directors,
14 Queens Park View,
Handbridge,
Chester,
CH4 7BU
(01244) 421 214
