Edwin Cook received his medical education at Liverpool University, graduating in 1940, early in the second world war. After holding resident posts at Liverpool he soon joined the RAFVR. One of his early postings was to 266 Rhodesia Squadron RAF, and his association with this squadron was to remain one of his most cherished memories. He completed his service in India where he developed his interest in ophthalmology. On returning to England he took the DOMS in 1947 and became senior registrar at the Eye, Ear and Throat Infirmary in Liverpool. Five years later he took the Fellowship and became consultant ophthalmic surgeon to the Wigan, Leigh and Wrightlington group of hospitals and later to Bootle General Hospital and the Providence Hospital in St Helens. In 1958 he was also appointed to the staff of the United Liverpool Hospitals in the capacity of consultant ophthalmic surgeon to St Paul's Eye Hospital. Cook was a member of the Faculty of Ophthalmologists and represented his region on the Council of the Faculty. At the time of his death he was the senior consultant ophthalmic surgeon to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board and was clinical lecturer in ophthalmology to Liverpool University. Cook's kindly personality combined with skill in his specialty made him a much loved colleague; in his spare time he used to go to his cottage in the Shropshire countryside near Oswestry and his times there were a great joy to him and his family. His untimely death on 4 February 1971 at the early age of 55 was a great loss to the profession; he was survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter, two of them being in the medical profession.