William Henry Cookson was born on 6 January 1929, the son of Harold Cookson, a shoe maker and his wife, Ethel May neé Winfield. He attended the Liverpool Institution and Liverpool University and became a Fellow of the College in 1962. Moving to Canada, he was appointed as a teaching fellow at Edmonton University Hospital, and then held posts at Nanaimo General and Ladysmith Hospitals. In May 1954 he married Alison M Duncan who was a biochemist. They had 5 children; James, a translator of French and German; Ian, a geophysicist and computer consultant; Ruth, an arts graduate; Guy, an economist; and Philip, who also did an arts degree and then became a social worker. Cookson's main interests were sailing, tennis and music. He was first cellist with the Naniamo Symphony orchestra and a talented pianist. He died on 2 July 1996, survived by his wife and family.