Deryk Lawrence (30 Oct 1926 - 12 Jan 2020)

In loving memory of Deryk Lawrence who sadly passed away on 12th January 2020 .Deryk ,whether he was our Father,Father in Law ,grandfather ,brother ,uncle ,cousin, friend ,colleague or Doctor was a kind thoughtful and gentle man with a keen sense of humor and at times a quiet stubborn streak. He was born in Beckenham on 30th October 1926 ,first child of Elsa and Cyril Lawrence . He lived in Beckenham or thereabouts for all his early life .In 1941 he and all his family survived their house being bombed at the end of the blitz .He attended St Dunstan’s school in South London but for much of his time at the school ,it was evacuated to Reigate because of the outbreak of war. He gained entry to Medical School at St Thomas’s Hospital ,part of London University in 1944.The medical school had also been evacuated ,this time to Hydestyle Hospital Godalming. Whilst studying here in 1944 he and fellow students just missed being hit by a doodlebug that flew over the rooftops of the hospital ,to explode in the next field. Following the end of the war his studies continued at St Thomas’s and he qualified as a doctor in 1951 .He did his house jobs at Epsom and St Thomas’s and the General Lying in hospital in Waterloo.His interest in Obstetrics and gynecology continued throughout his career. Whilst at Epsom he met our mother Myra Coyne as she was then and in a classic ,beloved of Mills and Boon ,the Nurse married the doctor.Deryk then undertook his National service as a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy ,he served in the Far East in Singapore Malaya Borneo and Hong Kong ,he served on HMS Alert ,the Admiral’s frigate.he had many interesting tales to tell. He returned to Britain and was shore based in Plymouth until the end of his commission. He then decided on a career in General Practice and joined Dr Gene Gancz in Dartford in Kent in 1955 .He continued in practice until 2013 and decided to retire fully aged 86. His invaluable medical experience was often sought by his patients and colleagues alike. His children David born in 1955 and Helena born in 1967 survive him .Sadly Myra his wife died in 2001 ,following complications of emergency surgery.Dad always enjoyed family and events around family ,he enjoyed a meal, wine and chat, although his family could have wished that he had used his hearing aid more !!. He had a lifelong love of the sea and all things nautical ,having learned to sail with his 2 brothers via Arthur Ransome’s handy manual ;”Swallows and Amazons” . he enjoyed sailing throughout his life and he had many happy times in his enterprise and mini sail and latterly in our wayfarer,we were lucky to have enjoyed a week in Norfolk in October and he enjoyed a trip on the Broads fulfilling a lifelong ambition. He remained independent until his final illness and was admitted to Darent Valley Hospital ,a week before Christmas and sadly despite excellent treatment died peacefully on 12th January 2020.We remember a kind ,fun ,loving ,clever man and celebrate his life and long service to medicine.