ABSTRACT
Coming into contact with Wilfred Bion for however short a time is an unforgettable experience. I met him first at a seminar when he was a candidate and I a newly qualified Associate Member. It was a joint seminar between candidates and new Associates, to discuss criteria for offering patients a Clinic vacancy. It seemed to me then that Wilfred dominated the group, both physically and mentally – a tall, broad, bald-headed man with a remarkable presence. He said very little, but I still remember what he said (and that was a very long time ago). He suggested that the best criterion is the patient’s capacity to maintain a relationship whilst under stress.
