In memory of Arthur Hyatt Williams
By Isca Wittenberg
I remember Hyatt with great affection. To be in his company was always
stimulating, entertaining, enriching. His mind worked so fast that it
was hard to keep up with him. I admired not only his immense knowledge
in so many fields but his love of life, his sense of beauty, his earthiness,
his capacity to deal with tragedy and yet continue to start afresh.
He had the gift to imbue everything he encountered with deep interest
and appreciation.
I felt privileged to feel his friendship but maybe he made everyone
who knew him feel he was a friend!. I knew Hyatt over many years and
think I met two of his wives-to-be before he did. I got to know Shiona
when I was working at Sussex University and encouraged her to come to
the Tavistock and I had worked closely with Gianna for many years before
Hyatt joined the Tavy.
During the time of Hyatt's Chairmanship of the Adolescent Department,
I found him always encouraging and helpful. I particularly remember
how he helped me when I was frightened of a man of 30 who had come to
the Young People's Counselling Service. In the course of the first consultation
this man spoke about his mother in a way that made me very aware of
his murderousness right there in the present. I felt I needed to leave
the room and consult Hyatt who said: tell him that he wants you to be
as frightened as he is of his mother and you. This understanding indeed
helped me and the patient to get over an impasse. I will also never
forget Hyatt teaching us how to distinguish between an adolescent having
murderous phantasies and one who may actually act them out. The one
whose phantasies are suffused with excitement is the really dangerous
one. How I wished Hyatt could help us now, when there is such an increase
in adolescents murdering each other and ever younger children committing
violent acts.
I think often these days with gratitude of Hyatt's setting an examnple
of being able to mourn and continue to invest in life.