Lawrence Crouch
BMJ 2003; 327 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7405.55-b (Published 03 July 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;327:55Data supplement
Lawrence Crouch
Former general practitioner Croydon, Surrey (b Devizes, Wiltshire, 25 May 1924; q St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, 1952), died from longstanding respiratory diseases on 27 January 2003.
Lawrence "Lawrie" Crouch began his career as a banker, but was called up in 1941 into the Royal Air Force, where he served as a navigation officer with Transport Command. He flew many sorties in Mitchells and medium bombers, and landed an important job taking stripped out Dakotas to Canada for supply duties; he went to 26 countries in all.
After demobilisation in 1946 he forsook his banking career to take up medicine and entered St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. In 1947 he married Sheila, his first wife, and he qualified in 1952. His first love and hopes of a career were in obstetrics and gynaecology but his financial situation did not permit this, and he decided instead to go into general practice. In 1958 he entered a practice in Addiscombe Road in Croydon. He quickly developed a reputation as a dedicated and incredibly hard working doctor, enhanced by his relaxed and engaging personality, which made him extremely popular with patients and colleagues alike.
Sadly, Sheila died in 1971, but after several years he met June, who was also recently bereaved; they married and had many years of great happiness together. He retired from practice in 1988 but continued to be very active in his chosen hobbies of fly fishing, gardening, travel, and his beloved dogs.
The last few years of his life were overtaken by a combination of several serious illnesses, which seriously limited his activities, but he bore this extremely bravely, and never lost his sense of proportion and humour.
He is survived by his widow, June, and one son, Michael, by his first marriage.
[ R J Courtenay-Evans ]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a