The surgical communities in both Britain and Ireland were saddened to hear of the death, after a long illness, of Tom Brennan, consultant surgeon in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Tom was born in Dundalk and graduated from UCD in 1962. He went to England to continue his postgraduate surgical training. He undertook SHO posts in London and obtained fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Edinburgh and England before his appointment as registrar in Leeds and subsequently as a senior registrar in the Leeds/Bradford training scheme.
From 1972 to 1974 he was lecturer in surgery with the late Prof Geoffrey Giles in the newly-established professorial surgical unit at St James's University Hospital, Leeds and was appointed to an NHS consultant post in that hospital, where he worked until his retirement last year.
Tom was an outstanding clinical surgeon, one of the last of that breed of truly general surgeons whose clinical talents appeared to know no bounds. He was ahead of his time, for example, when over 20 years ago he established a multidisciplinary clinic for women suffering from diseases of the breast, and he was the first surgeon in Leeds to embrace interventional laparoscopy.
Skilled as his surgical talents were, Tom will probably be best remembered as a teacher, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Countless surgical registrars owe him an enormous debt of gratitude both for his patience and for the legacy of his clinical insight.
He had that rare ability to operate via the trainees' hands. It is a great reflection of the high esteem in which he was held that he was always mentioned in the annual medical students' review. His knowledge was invariably transferred with generosity, tinged with his own likable brand of wit.
Tom also facilitated the transfer of many Irish surgical trainees to and fro across the Irish Sea, many of whom have become notable surgeons.
He was arguably the most popular surgical examiner in Ireland and Britain, because it always seemed that the examining bodies had conveniently forgotten that his term of office as external examiner had expired.
His achievements were recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2005 by the striking of a special medal, which was awarded to him in appreciation of his commitment to training.
Tom Brennan was an outstanding colleague. His opinions about difficult cases were always worth seeking and his wisdom was generously given.
Beneath the skilful surgeon and teacher there was a compassionate man whose kindness to his patients was limitless.
Tom had a highly developed sense of humour. He had a great interest in all sport, playing squash to a highly competitive level; he was also a very keen golfer.
He will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends and by his brother and sister, Paul and Mary, with whom he enjoyed memorable evenings of good food and wine when he was examining in Dublin.
His love and devotion to his family were boundless, and the fortitude and spirit he showed in his illness were matched by the love, understanding, and great good humour of his wife, Mary, and his children, Jessica, Jennifer, Michael, and Catherine.
Their loss will be the greatest.
P.G.