Cyril Cooling was a consultant surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital and then medical superintendent of Benenden Hospital in Kent. The second son of Frank Cooling, a newsagent, and Lilian M Cooling née Waygood, he won the coveted Bucknill scholarship to enter University College Hospital in 1941, the first pupil from his village school to gain entry to medical school. The headmaster was so excited that he gave the whole school a day off. He started his training through the London Blitz, using his free time to teach himself the saxophone so he could play in a jazz band to self-fund his way through medical school when not on fire warden duties. After qualifying in 1946, he served for two years in the RAF in Stranraer, kick-starting a lifelong love of Scotland with many subsequent holidays and eventual residence in his latter years. After training posts in Ipswich and London, Cyril was appointed as a consultant oncology surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital and was part of the team that opened the Sutton branch in 1963, where he was instrumental in the establishment of the renowned breast surgery unit there, pioneering less invasive forms of surgery than the radical mastectomies that were then the standard treatment. He was revered and respected by both patients and colleagues, always making time for anyone, ever-mindful of his own humble background. At the peak of his career in London, in 1977 he moved to the Kent countryside to become the medical superintendent of Benenden Hospital, where he oversaw the construction of a new surgical wing and thoroughly enjoyed getting back into general surgery again. Retirement in 1985 gave him the opportunity to further develop his love of Latin-American dancing with his wife Phyllis, whom he adored, and together they enjoyed many years of village life in Kent actively involved in amateur dramatics and other pursuits. Sadly, the latter part of his retirement was devoted to caring for Phyllis who lost her eyesight. Predeceased by Phyllis just a few months after they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2016, Cyril Cooling died on 18 August 2018 at the age of 95 from cerebrovascular disease and dementia. He was survived by four children, 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.