Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Cathedral service to celebrate life of inspirational doctor
Respected paediatrician saved many children’s lives across east Kent
The family of a doctor who pioneered better healthcare for babies and children across east Kent is holding a celebration of his life at Canterbury Cathedral next month.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Jim Appleyard died in February, aged 86, after a long fight with cancer, but the village church at Blean could only accommodate a limited number of family and friends.
His widow Elizabeth, a retired dentist, says she knows many more would have liked to attend, including families and children whose lives he touched and saved with his dedicated care.
“The Cathedral has kindly offered us the Quire for a celebration of his life service at 2pm on Thursday, June 23 and everyone is welcome to attend,” said Elizabeth.
“We were limited to 120 at the church for his funeral so this will enable many more to come, including former colleagues and others who could not make the church service.”
Dr Appleyard was responsible for many far-reaching improvements in child healthcare, including the special care baby unit ??? and the Mary Sheridan unit for children with special needs.
Described by colleagues as an extraordinarily compassionate and caring doctor who always put patients first, his death sparked a wave of sympathy and condolences from many of his former patients.
Many people took to Facebook to share stories of his work.
Tracy Jarvis wrote: “Such a lovely man. He saved my life and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here today.”
Christine Kember added: “Lovely man. He saved my son’s life and will be sadly missed.”
Gillian Ryn posted: “Very sad. He was amazing when my youngest son was born six weeks early and had breathing problems.”
Dr Appleyard had graduated from Oxford University and began his training as a doctor at Guy’s Hospital.
When he came to the Kent and Canterbury as consultant paediatrician in 1971, he immediately focused on improving the life chances of babies and young children.
He became an outspoken campaigner for services to be maintained at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, but his influence stretched across the world.
His knowledge and expertise were widely valued, and he served on numerous national and international medical boards.
He was later awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Kent.
Giving the eulogy at the Blean church service in February, former colleague and retired radiologist Stuart Field said: “As a powerful speaker he was an influential member of numerous important national com
mittees, including the British Medical Association, General Medical Council, The Royal College of Physicians and the British Paediatric Association.
“He was for five years a hugely influential treasurer of not only the British Paediatric Association but also for the British Medical Association, which subsequently made him an honorary vice-president for 10 years until 2013.
“He had a hugely positive influence on not only the development of paediatric medicine but UK medicine as a whole, for which the nation should be justly proud.”
Shortly before his death, Dr Appleyard completed a book on Person Centered Medicine, for which he had coordinated multiple world-wide authors and written a chapter himself.
‘He had a hugely positive influence on not only the development of paediatric medicine but UK medicine as a whole, for which the nation should be justly proud...’