08:10 Thursday 24 May 2012 Written by ADRIAN JENKINS
A BRILLIANT doctor has died from a cancer thought to have been caused almost 40 years ago when he removed a boiler packed with white asbestos.
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Geoffrey Newton
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Geoffrey Newton died at the Royal Derby Hospital's Nightingale Macmillan Unit aged 81, almost two years after he was diagnosed with lung-lining disease mesothelioma.
His wife of 57 years, Pat, 82, a former general practitioner, with whom he lived at The Green, Bretby, and their daughter, Sarah, 37, who lives in Manchester and works in the music industry, were by his side.
"He was outstandingly gifted and expected to be able to do almost anything he attempted — and he usually could," his widow said.
"Geoffrey was a brilliant surgeon — one of the pioneers of knee replacement surgery — and his patients adored him.
"He had a knack with them and really was very good. His nursing staff also thought very highly of him." A complex character born in Salford, Greater Manchester, one of three children of a sheet metal worker and housewife, he lived near Stockport for most of his childhood.
Educated at Stockport School, he won a state scholarship to read medicine at Manchester University where, in 1948, he met his future wife. They married seven years later in her hometown, Blackpool.
After qualifying, Mr Newton completed three years' National Service in the Army, serving in Penang and Kuala Lumpur before driving from South East Asia back to the UK with his wife.
In 1960, he spent a year in Antarctica with Australians as a medical officer, official biologist and photographer before driving around Australia and New Zealand with Mrs Newton.
He then spent up to five years as a general surgeon in Manchester hospitals before specialising in orthopaedics, the branch of medicine dealing with the correction of bone or muscle deformities.
Following six months in Oswestry, Mr Newton returned to work in Manchester for several years before taking a position as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derbyshire Children's Hospital and Bretby Hospital.
"Bretby was his pet and he fought tooth and nail to keep it open," said Mrs Newton, recounting that the hospital closed in 1997.
An expert of such renown, surgeons travelled to Derbyshire from London to watch Mr Newton operate.
After retiring in 1992, he enjoyed read- ing and built a steam launch, joining the Steam Boat Association and sailing with his wife throughout England and in France, Switzerland and Ireland.
Mr Newton, who died on Wednesday, May 16, will be remembered at his funeral at noon on Monday at Bretby Crematorium.
