Deaths

PETER MARY EDWARD DRURY (W51) 24th September 1932 – 5th April 2017 was born in Dublin.  He came to the Junior House in 1942 and then moved up to St Wilfrid’s House, where he enjoyed cricket and knew the best scores of all the Old Boys.  During his time in St Wilfrid’s he was well known for two things – his extremely well-informed enthusiasm for cricket (Fr Dominic once encountered him seated on the top of a mountain in Spain reading Wisden), and for his invariable good nature and his reluctance to say an unkind word to or about anybody.  These qualities remained evident throughout his life.

He read medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge and then moved to Guy’s Hospital for his clinical training.  He began anaesthetics at South Mead hospital in Bristol, although he was interrupted by National Service spent mostly at Catterick Camp, North Yorkshire.  In 1961 he married Veronica Drury.

A course run by an Old Amplefordian professor, Cecil Gray (A31), to support anaesthetists in gaining their fellowships brought him to Liverpool.  He was made a Consultant Anaesthetist in 1965.  He did pioneering work in the development of intensive care, writing ‘A Guide to the Intensive Care Unit’ with a colleague, Dr Ronnie Finn.  Peter was the second anaesthetist to be President of the Liverpool Medical Institution (the first being Cecil Gray himself).

A devoted music lover, he joined the Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and was a member for 25 years.  He played the piano all his life and learnt to play the organ, providing music for weekly mass, novenas and weddings.  When he retired in 1997 he took up the double bass.

He had a great love for the Lake District.  He frequently persuaded his four children to join him on long walks and organised fell walking trips for the porters, doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit.  He made his best cricket score in a match between consultants and junior staff where he acted as wicketkeeper.  His deep faith sustained him throughout his life.

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Rest in eternal peace.