Tributes to ex-Kings pupil – GP Edward Cockayne

The family of Edward Ernest Cockayne, who passed away peacefully at home on Friday, have paid the following tribute to the ‘influential and respected’ family doctor:

Curious and adventurous, Dr Cockayne was passionate about his patients, teaching trainee doctors and pioneering ways of attracting GPs into West Suffolk.

Born in Broken Cross, Macclesfield, in 1940, he grew up to love being outdoors, particularly gardening, long-distance walking and fishing.

Educated at King’s School, Macclesfield, his parents Ernest and Sarah Cockayne, both of whom had worked at the local psychiatric hospital, Park Side, supported his dream to become a doctor.

He studied medicine at Guy’s Hospital (1958-1963) where he met nurse Elizabeth who became his wife in 1964.

Dr Cockayne worked at four hospitals around London before deciding to become a GP and taking up the post in Woolpit, Suffolk, in 1965.

Dr Cockayne enjoyed rugby, playing for school, teaching hospital and eventually for Bury St Edmunds.

He was a tower of strength to families when 18 members, supporters and players died in the air crash in March 1974. He was secretary at that time, and much later served as club president.

Before he retired, he wrote a book about his experiences called An Apple a Day under the pseudonym Cornelius Slater (Headline Book Publishing: 1987), which is still handed to new doctors in West Suffolk as an example of what caring for people in a country practice is like.

Far-sighted as he was, he secured funding to build the current health centre in Woolpit, and developed and ran the trainee GP scheme at West Suffolk Hospital.

Crucially in the 80s, when there were too few people wishing to train to be doctors, he created opportunities for overseas doctors from Germany, the Netherlands and South Africa to learn in Suffolk ensuring that there were enough doctors to serve the community.

When he retired he did his History of Medicine Diploma. In the next few years, together with Noel Stow, he set up Suffolk Medical History Society.

They also co-authored two books, Stutter’s Casebook, a Junior Hospital Doctor 1839-41, published by Suffolk Record Society (St Edmundsbury Press: 2005) and An 18th Century Physician’s Handbook (Mac Slaytor: 2012).

He expanded work by Dr van Zwanenburg to make a comprehensive record of the medical practitioners in previous centuries which is available atwww.suffolkmedicalbiographies.com.

A long-distance walker, he completed paths across the world, including the UK, France, Italy and New Zealand.

A keen gardener, he grew fruit and vegetables, and kept rare breed sheep.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth and his devoted daughters Sarah, Frances, Claire and Isabel. He was loving grandpa to Laurie, Flora, Daisy, Rosie, Anna, Max, Billy, Tom and Eva.

A memorial will be planned for later this year.