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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BROOKS, Christopher James, MB. Ch.B. Manchester 1964; FFOM, D.Av.Med, OMM, O.StJ, CD - Dr. Chris Brooks, born 1941 in Prestbury, Cheshire, UK finished with main engines and steering on, but his bilge pump could no longer keep up with his leaking stern gland, and he sank on October 3rd. He was a physician, scientist and inventor born into a large family of physicians (14) who came from East Lancashire. He authored four books, over 90 peer reviewed papers in the scientific journals, and owned or co-shared five US or Canadian patents. He was shipped off to Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire aged 8 years old and detested it. He later skipped being part of the second row of the rugger scrum in favour of going to see Bridgette Bardot in her first film that came to UK, called Light Across the Street at the Cleveleys's Odeon. For this noble act, he received 12 strokes on the arse with a billiard cue. He always claimed every stroke was worth it. At age 18, he entered Manchester University Medical School graduating in 1964. Due to his penurious state, in his fifth year he joined the Royal Navy as a medical officer cadet. He was the first Medical Officer in the new Polaris submarine HMS Renown and the only physician in Canada to have served in two nuclear submarines (the other being HMS Warspite). Following a locum in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, in the winter of 1975, he joined the RCN. He was posted to Shearwater, Nova Scotia. In one medevac, he was dangled from the hoist of a Sea King helicopter over a Pictou stern trawler, 60 miles offshore Louisburg, NS. Once onboard, he treated and saved, a fisherman with a severe knife wound whose guts were held in by a sanitary towel! The flight, even in the superb Sea King, was not without incident and this gave him the desire to improve the safety of all who fly over water in helicopters. In his time at the former DCIEM in Toronto, he gained a Diploma in Aviation Medicine from Farnborough and a Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians in Occupational medicine, he replaced all the outdated lifejackets in the RCAF, and introduced a quick don marine abandonment suit for the RCN. He then worked as the Director of R&D for Survival Systems Ltd., Dartmouth, NS, and introduced an emergency breathing apparatus for all marine military helicopters crew and passengers which is also used in some form, on all maritime commercial helicopters. His NATO marine survival lecture series is renowned among both seafarers and aviators. His significant contributions to the improvement of safety for all those who earn their living flying over water were recognized by the Duke of Edinburgh who presented him with the Gold Medal from the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators. For his outstanding achievement in the field of aerospace medicine, he was awarded the Theodore Lyster Award from the Aerospace Medical Association. In his last years, he was a Member of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada where he completed more hearings than any other member since the Tribunal's inception. Throughout his life, he was intolerant of bureaucracy and fought it all the way to provide outstanding service to all his patients. He was highly regarded as a "proper doctor" and would always go that extra mile for them. He never slacked in his entire life. He was devoted to his best friend and much beloved late wife, "Our Elaine," aka "the Mole" of 58 years, who hailed from the Rossendale in Lancashire, and predeceased him in June 2024. He will be sadly missed by his sister and his two sons, of which he was so proud. His eldest son is a specialist in infectious diseases and the younger, a senior mechanical engineer, who both married strong and successful women. He took great delight in celebrating the successes of his marvellous seven grandchildren. No flowers please, donations to the Humane Society of Ottawa or a charity of one's choice. (The Globe and Mail 12 Oct 2024)
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