The remarkable medical career of D-day doctor

‘Dad was very proud of his achievements, especially the intensive therapy unit’

A doctor who helped the wounded on D-day and set up one of the first intensive therapy units in the country has died shortly after his 100th birthday.

Anaesthetist Dr Peter Read had a remarkable medical career and was involved in pioneering work in his speciality.

As a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps, he helped assemble a mobile hospital and went to Normandy in June 1944, where he treated those injured, many horrifically, in the beach landings.

He then came to Canterbury and Thanet hospitals in the mid- 1950s after training at Middlesex Hospital, joining Dr Henry Blazeby, who was the first local consultant anaesthetist.

The Department of Anaesthet- ics was established in the 1960s, and after attending a medical conference, Peter and Henry set up an intensive therapy unit at Canterbury, which was one of the first of its kind.

The pair were also on the commissioning team when the hospital site was redeveloped.

Following the opening of an accident centre, the Peter Read Intensive Therapy Unit was sited next to the operating theatres, where a plaque still bears his name,

Peter took a major role in the transformation of the use of anaesthetics and chaired the medical staff committee during challenging times.

Somewhat confusingly for staff and patients, he later worked with another anaesthetist at the hospital also called Peter Read.

Peter met his first wife Jean in 1942, soon after qualifying as a doctor, and they later settled in Herne.

He worked in Canterbury, where they brought up their three children, Peter, Alastair and Elizabeth.

When he retired from medicine, Peter and Jean set off on a round-the-world trip. On their return, he studied the history of costume, which he lectured on, and established the Kent Costume Trust.

After Jean died in 1996, he embarked on another world trip, visiting relatives in the US and Australia, eventually moving to Amberley in Sussex to marry Mary Bullen, who had previously been married to old friend Henry Blazeby. Peter Read. Inset during his wartime service with the Royal Army Medical Corps

Mary was a sculptor and artist and Peter was encouraged and inspired to take it up too.

Following Mary’s death, Peter returned to Herne three years ago to live in the family home, where he died peacefully on November 19.

His daughter Elizabeth said: “Dad was a very caring, gregarious man who has led a remarkable life and was very proud of his achievements, especially the intensive therapy unit.

“He was on good form on his birthday on November 1 and raised a glass of wine and made a speech.

“He had 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who were very fond of him, and he enjoyed fireworks with them on bonfire night.”

Peter’s funeral was held at Barham crematorium on Tuesday afternoon.