Francis Bernard COOKSON

― George Bernard Shaw, Back to Methuselah

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

― George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw was a favoured author in Francis’ life. These quotes capture some of aspects of his multi-faceted way of being. We all live storied lives and those we encounter in our lives create new stories. We offer here a version of Francis Bernard Cookson’s life. We invite you to contribute your thoughts, and experiences of Francis.

Born in Preston on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire England,  Francis and his family moved to the seaside town of Blackpool in North West England. A talented scholar, at the age of 6 he won a full government scholarship to attend a Catholic public school. His academic successes continued throughout his schooling. At the end of high school he served a mandatory one year of military service with the British Army. During this time his athletic abilities drew the attention of his military trainers and he spent the year of service training as a potential runner for the British Olympic Team. His training involved both running and cycling and each day he would cycle from Blackpool to Preston as part of his training.  While a back injury prevented him from qualifying for the Olympic Team, an abiding love for athletics emerged, including cycling and rock climbing in the Lake District.

Athletics was only one of the many facets of his interests; reading, scientific enquiry and fast cars also drew his interest. During his travels between Preston and Blackpool  he would stop in Stanley Park in Blackpool and read Bernard Shaw.

In 1949, after completing his military service, Francis attended Manchester University to study medicine. By 1956 he had completed a B.Sc. (Hons.), M.B., Ch.B.,and D.R.C.O.G.  His athletic interests continued, including playing squash and golfing where he qualified for membership at the Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club. During the course of his military training the aftermath of a childhood mumps infection left him with a hearing disability which would impact his decisions and choices throughout his life, but never prevent him from engaging fully in his profession.

Following the standard house physician and house surgeon appointment, he did one year as a demonstrator in Anatomy at Manchester University. After a short locum he accepted a position as a partner and principal in a three doctor practice in Blackpool. Part of his role was to provide physician services to the summer holiday camps set up for workers from the various mills in the area. The camps were known for their liveliness; with many contentious factions.  His practice ranged from travelling from camp to camp and attending to the divergent needs of mill workers and their families, to home visits within Blackpool and attending to patients within the traditional hospital and clinic environments in the area.

In 1964 Francis emigrated to Canada and took a position in Anatomy at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon). He was joined there by his family. In 1966 he accepted an offer of an associate professorship at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 1968, whilst in Anatomy, he started to do some part-time work as a physician in the University Health Service. About that time Medicare was introduced and he became involved in the reorganization of the Health Service in light of this change.  In 1971, on the basis of his research in alfalfa and hypercholesterolaemia he was promoted to full professor in Anatomy and Neuroanatomy – the youngest full professor in the institution at that time.  In 1972 he was appointed director of the University Health Service on a half-time basis whilst continuing to teach in Anatomy. In 1974 he accepted additional responsibilities from the Dean of Medicine and became Associate Dean, responsible for undergraduate medical education and student evaluation. His main responsibilities included review and revision of the undergraduate curriculum, the design and implementation of comprehensive examination techniques and the stipulation of admissions criteria.  He brought his full energy and intelligence to each of these three responsibilities; classroom teaching, faculty leadership and health services, performing so well in each that his students thought there were three Dr. Cookson’s; the one who taught, the one who took leadership in the faculty and the one who dealt with the physical and emotional concerns of young undergraduate students.

Francis was a gifted teacher. He engaged students through aesthetics, science and imagination.  His ability to see subject matter three-dimensionally meant that he could speak directly to his students making eye contact with them while referring in detail to the pictures and models positioned behind him.  This art of engagement and focus on the students impressed them both in terms of his depth of knowledge of the subject matter as well as the sense that he was fully present to them.

During this time he lost his first wife to cancer.

Francis held great appreciation for the young undergraduate students who attended university, loving their intelligence and empathizing with the physical and emotional challenges they dealt with. This informed his design of the Health Clinic; including immunization, the development of an in-house pharmacy, and psychological/counselling services. Francis was assisted in his work by Patricia Ann who served as his head nurse, administrative officer and cherished colleague. Together they worked to build a resilient health services; meeting the needs of the student population. Because of his disability and Patricia’s willingness to act as his ears, Francis would declare that together they made one whole person. In February 1982 Francis underwent open heart surgery, stubbornly returning to work after giving himself a whole week to recover.  In May of 1982 Francis and Patricia were married.

The theme of building was endemic to Francis and Patricia’s relationship. Not only did they work well together in the work environment, but together they were able to build a family and home life. Frank was a real introvert; driven by his work, passionate about his students and especially passionate about his family. He had a wicked sense of humour (shared by granddaughter Georgia) and did not suffer fools. This, combined with an innate stubbornness led to many stories of tears and laughter, with the laughter perhaps not emerging until sometime after the event. 

Table manners were especially important to Francis and when grandson Mackenzie tried to shove a huge hunk of broccoli into his mouth at the tender age of eight Francis was incensed. It took the laughter of the other members of the family and a little time to turn the anger and hurt into humour. But as always, family spirit prevailed and the love and support that Francis always offered his family won out.  This support was always accompanied by honest (sometimes brutal) analysis and sound advice. Francis offered a safe and secure haven for his family, but he never pulled his punches. His grandchildren held a special place in his heart.  Georgia, an accomplished horsewoman, developed her abiding love of riding when Pat and Francis placed her on her first horse, at Tiger Lilly Meadows at age three. 

Francis retired in 1997 at the age of 65 and he and Patricia moved to Qualicum Beach where they continued their partnership of building; this time a new home and a wonderful garden. Francis’ approach to the garden design was the same as his approach to his professional life; aesthetics , science and imagination as well as the ability to conceptualize in a three dimensional space with the added help of a pick axe and shovel. In 2010 Francis and Patricia took on another building project, leaving their first home in Qualicum Beach and building another, along with a wonderful garden that had the benefit of the lessons learned from their first garden. This new design featured the Japanese maples and roses that Francis loved so much. 

Francis found time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with wife Pat; walking to the beach, people and wildlife watching, quiet introspection as he enjoyed the successes of his grandchildren, satisfaction that his “home team” Manchester United won the league this year. England still held a place in his heart as he followed the news of the world and the London Times online. Francis experienced many physical problems which he found restricting, but he never lost his sense of humour or the intellectual alertness that was so much a part of his live. His place of interment reflects those quiet pleasures – a gentle resting place under a young Seirju Maple with a memorial stone reading, “Together We Built a Garden.”

 “Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

― George Bernard Shaw