JULIET Gardner of Fordton House, Crediton, who has died from cancer aged 77, entered the medical profession in the early 1960s and founded the Devon-based Joint Action Child Abuse Team.

She gained early fame in 1962 when, at Ravenscourt tube station in London, she jumped between the live tracks to save a man who had fallen under a train.

In 1964, Sam Wass, Senior Consultant Surgeon at Guys Hospital, wrote to her: "Over the years I have had several very good house-surgeons, but you have outshone them all. On every side I hear your praises sung, and all sorts of people have gone out of their way to tell me how well they think of you."

In 1968, Juliet joined the Department of Vascular Surgery in Exeter.

In the early 1980s, a parliamentary enquiry identified the need for improved action for child abuse victims and their families.

In response, Devon Social Services established Child Abuse Case Conferences.

These required an externally appointed chair person with the right professional credentials and Juliet became the independent chair of conferences for the Exeter area.

She also carried out research nationally, to further understand the scale of the child abuse problem, the role of different professionals and potential solutions for improved action to support victims.

In Devon, a core group of appropriate professionals working on cases of child abuse was inaugurated.

Visiting schools, surgeries, social services departments, the police and prisons, Juliet’s perseverance galvanised key professionals including social workers, teachers, child psychologists, doctors, police and lawyers.

By 1986 the Joint Action Child Abuse Team (JACAT) was fully developed and chaired by Juliet.

It still operates today through the Devon Child Adolescent and Mental Health Service.

JACAT was the first organisation of its type in England, and recognised the importance of collaborative decision making for victims of child abuse.

Besides her leadership role, Juliet also worked closely with abused children and parents.

Juliet also worked as resident doctor in the Crediton Shippams factory.

Until recently, she provided support to terminally ill patients in Exeter hospices (having previously trained in bereavement counselling to gain a better understanding of other areas of psychology and counselling within the framework of JACAT).

Aged 16, she met her husband-to-be, Nigel, on a train in Wengen, Switzerland. The spectacular and beautiful range of Swiss mountains that link the Eiger, Jungfraujock and Matterhorn, was a fitting and grand stage for a love that lasted 60 years.

Juliet was also a talented golfer.

She was Devon County Captain in 1996 and 1997 and played in various national competitions. She was President of Devon Ladies in 2008 and 2009.

She leaves her husband Nigel and children Nikki, James and Michael.

Alan Quick