Dr James S.R. Baxter (Charing Cross Hospital Medical School 1961)

Provided by Dr Sara Baxter

OBITUARY OF MR JAMES SINCLAIR RENNICK BAXTER (RENNIE)

BORN 16.9.35 MONTREAL CANADA

DIED 9.2.09 CANTERBURY UK OF SEPTIC SHOCK.
CONSULTANT ENT SURGEON KENT & CANTERBURY HOSPITAL 1971-1997

RENNIE WAS BORN IN CANADA WHILE HIS IRISH PARENTS WERE LIVING IN MONTREAL. HE ATTENDED CLIFTON COLLEGE IN BRISTOL THEN WENT UP TO EMMANUEL COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE IN 1954, FOLLOWED BY HIS CLINICAL YEARS AT CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL,LONDON.HE SPECIALISED IN OTOLARYNGOlOGY AND TOOK UP HIS FIRST CONSULTANT POST IN KINGS LYNN IN 1969. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE KENT AND CANTERBURY HOSPITAL IN 1971, WHERE HE REMAINED AS CONSULTANT UNTIL 1997. HIS SUBBSPECIALISATION WAS IN AUDIOLOGY AND ONE OF HIS PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS WAS THE GROWTH OF THE AUDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

SADLY, A FEW MONTHS BEFORE HIS PLANNED RETIREMENT, HE SUFFERED A SEVERE STROKE IN JUNE 1997. HE WAS DEVOTEDLY NURSED AT HOME BY HIS WIFE , PATTY, FOR THE NEXT 11 YEARS. IN 2008 HE HAD TO GO TO A NURSING HOME AS HE HAD DETERIORATED. FOLLOWING A UTI HE DEVELOPED SEPTIC SHOCK AND DIED PEACEFULLY IN THE HOSPITAL HE SERVED FOR SO LONG.

HE WAS A FINE CRAFTSMAN IN CARPENTRY, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORK. HE RENOVATED SEVERAL OLD HOUSES. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC; HE PLAYED THE TRUMPET AND SANG IN VARIOUS CHOIRS, INCLUDING THE CANTERBURY CHORAL SOCIETY.

HE IS REMEMBERED BY ALL FOR HIS SENSE OF THE ABSURD AND GREAT HUMOUR. HE IS SURVIVED BY PATTY, 3 CHILDREN (ONE OF WHOM FOLLOWED HIM INTO MEDICINE) AND 6 GRANDCHILDREN.

DR SARA BAXTER (RENNIE'S DAUGHTER)