Obituaries

British Medical Journal, April 22, 2000

Robert Cox

Consultant surgeon Westminster Hospital, 1944-77 (b 1912; q Westminster 1935; FRCS; CBE), d 7 February 2000. After serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the second world war Robert was appointed to the staff of Westminster Hospital as a general surgeon. As Hunterian professor in 1957 he lectured on oesophageal cancer, not a condition for the fainthearted surgeon in those days. He became principally a urologist, but his clinical opinion was so highly regarded that he held honorary appointments in many London hospitals. He was a memorable teacher at the bedside and in outpatients. He was totally committed to all things concerning Westminister Hospital and its medical school. Of Irish parents, he could blaze, but only as necessary, and the twinkle in his eye was never far away. A keen fisherman, he retired to an idyllic spot by the River Itchen, where he cultivated a beautiful garden and would hold court on almost any subject. Predeceased by his wife, Joan, alter a long illness, he leaves a daughter and two sons (one a consultant urologist). [JOHN WEBSTER]

Zeta Marion Ursula Eastes

Former general practitioner and community health doctor south Gloucestershire (b 1914; q University College Hospital 1939), d 20 November 1999. After qualifying she and her new husband look on a scattered rural practice on the edge of the Cotswolds. They had to do everything from home deliveries to making up and dispensing their own medicines and doing postmortems. Alter her children were born she moved into community child health. Zeta had an excellent analytical brain and a memory for detail. Her highly productive garden, beautiful photography, and foreign travel were essential parts of her life until she died. She made significant contributions to local politics, education, and history, folk song and dance, botany and birdwatching. She was a generous hostess and lively raconteur. She died two days before her diamond wedding anniversary. She leaves a husband, Henry (a retired GP); a son and two daughters; and eight grandchildren. [HENRY J EASTES, JANE RICHARDS]

Henry Colin Geldard

Former general practitioner Sheringham (b Plymouth 1904; q Middlesex 1927), died of old age on 17 March 2000. After house officer posts he moved to Sheringham in north Norfolk where he served the local community, running a singlehanded dispensing practice, for nearly 40 years until he retired in 1971. He took an active part in training the local St John Ambulance brigades, was a churchwarden, ran bible study groups, and supported missionary work overseas. A dignified man, he maintained excellent health until his 90s, when he took a characteristically generous blow at a golf ball, lost his balance, and ended up in a ravine with a broken shoulder and subsequent pulmonary embolus. It was my grandfather's ability to make his patients laugh and relax with him when they were seriously ill that led to my becoming an oncologist. Predeceased by his wife, Anne; he leaves three daughters; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. [STEPHEN FALK]

Grace Edith Harland (nee Mellows)

Missionary doctor Kachwa Hospital, north India (b 1915; q London School of Medicine for Women 1942), died from cardiac and renal failure on I March 2000. She worked briefly in hospital and general practice before leaving for India in 1944 to serve as a captain in the Indian Army Medical Service. After the war she was accepted by an Anglican mission (now Crosslinks) and continued working in India until she retired in 1978. She helped a dedicated medical team and supported her husband, Bob, latterly archdeacon of Lucknow. One brother, a son, two nephews, and a niece studied medicine, possibly all inspired by her career and enthusiasm. She leaves three children and six grandchildren. [TIM HARLAND]

John Charles Harland

Former consultant physician Isle of Wight Hospital, 1950-78 (b Hull 1912; q Westminster 1935; MD, FRCP), d 2 March 2000. He was the son of a Hull general practitioner, and spent most of the second world war in the Egyptian desert. He was later with the first casualty unit to cross the Rhine and was mentioned in despatches. He was a central member of the Isle of Wight medical community for almost 30 years, and was proud of establishing the local postgraduate medical centre. His Christian faith was central to his life, and he was a long serving church warden. His interests included history and literature, and although a heart murmur in childhood prevented his taking part in vigorous games he took up golf and played for 70 years, stopped only by a late diagnosed atrial septal defect. He leaves a wife, Margaret; three sons; and eight grandchildren. [PETER C HARLAND, STEPHEN J HARLAND]

John Howard Inskip

Former general practitioner Wells, Somerset (b Bedfordshire 1924; q Cambridge/Guy's 1948), died from a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm on 28 October 1999. The son of a farmer, he said that he went into medicine to avoid getting out of bed with calving cows. He did his national service with the Royal Air Force and served in Kurdistan. He was a GP in Wells for nearly 40 years, enjoying the varied nature of general practice, including casualty work in the cottage hospital, domiciliary obstetrics, and the care of extended families. For many years he was the doctor for Wells Cathedral School--known as Dr "leave it alone and it'll get better"--and divisional surgeon for the local St John Ambulance Brigade. He served on the North East Somerset Hospitals' management committee to keep the cottage hospitals open. Bilateral hip replacements in his 60s allowed him to continue playing golf, even reducing his handicap when he was 75. He enjoyed country pursuits all his life. [HAZEL AND TOM INSKIP]